Determination of the nutritional status, depression scores, physical activity levels, and body composition of fitness center members

Obesity and depression are two major public health problems that pose a growing global threat, with increasing prevalence worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional status, depression scores, physical activity levels, and body composition of members of a private fitness center. A total of 430 adults aged between 19 and 65 years (221 women, 209 men) participated in the study. The data were collected through a questionnaire including a general information form, a nutrition habits survey, a 24-hour dietary recall, a food frequency questionnaire, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Among the participants, 71.9% were between 19 and 34 years old. Nearly half of the women (48.4%) were classified as normal weight, whereas 48.8% of men were overweight. Regarding physical activity levels, 17.4% of participants were inactive, 48.1% were minimally active, and 34.4% were highly active. When energy and nutrient intakes were examined, insufficient intake of fiber, vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium and potassium was found in women, while insufficient intake of vitamin C and calcium was found in men. According to BDI scores, 60.6% of participants showed no signs of depression, 29.8% had mild, and 9.6% had moderate depressive symptoms. Marital status and educational level were found to significantly influence depression scores (p<0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed between anthropometric measurements, body composition parameters, energy and nutrient intake, and depression levels (p>0.05). Physical activity levels were higher among males and participants aged 19-34 years; however, there was no significant difference between physical activity levels and depression scores (p>0.05). The findings indicated that depressive tendencies are more closely associated with sociodemographic variables than biological factors. In conclusion, obesity and depression should be addressed together, and promoting healthy eating habits, maintaining regular physical activity, and strengthening social support mechanisms appear to be key protective factors in the prevention and management of depression. Key Words: Depression; nutritional status; obesity; physical activity.