The effect of individual healthy nutrition training in primary careon knowledge, attitudes and anthropometric measurements towards healthynutrition: An intervention study

Obesity is spreading like an epidemic all over the world and causes an increase in health expenditures. Healthy nutrition training is very important in the prevention of obesity and treatment of obesity. This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude levels and anthropometric measurements of individuals aged 18-65 who applied to primary care and to evaluate the effects of individual healthy nutrition trainings to be given in primary care on the knowledge, attitudes and anthropometric measurements regarding healthy nutrition. The research was conducted in the form of face-to-face interviews with 101 participants who applied to Gülveren Education Family Health Center between April 01, 2023 and December 30, 2023 and agreed to participate in the study. After the volunteers were asked about their sociodemographic information, current nutritional status, healthy nutrition knowledge questions, Attitude Scale towards Healthy Nutrition and their body composition, anthropometric measurements and body mass index measurements were taken, they were given healthy nutrition training individually with presentation material. One month after the first interview, questions about current nutritional status and knowledge level and the Attitude Towards Healthy Nutrition Scale were asked. 3 months after the first interview, questions about current nutritional status, knowledge level and the Attitude Towards Healthy Nutrition Scale were asked again and body composition, anthropometric measurements and body mass index measurements were taken again. 101 participants completed the study. When the gender distribution was examined, it was determined that 52.5% (n=53) were female and 47.5% (n=48) were male. The mean age of the participants was found to be 37.47. 37.6% (n=38) of the participants were normal weight, 34.7% (n=35) were overweight and 27.7% (n=28) were obese. According to the initial data, the mean number of main meals and snacks was found to be 2.52±0.55 and 1.27±0.93, respectively. The number of main meals did not show statistically significant change between follow-ups (p>0.05). An increase was detected in the number of snacks and the proportion of participants doing physical activity between follow-ups, and it viii showed a statistically significant difference between follow-ups (p=0.009, p = 0.002, respectively). When the visits before and after the healthy nutrition education were compared, the difference between the follow-ups in healthy nutrition knowledge scores and attitude scale scores towards healthy nutrition was found to be significant (p<0.05, p<0.001, respectively). When the anthropometric characteristics of the participants were compared before and after the healthy nutrition education visits, it was seen that there was a significant decrease in body weight, fat percentage, waist circumference and hip circumference (p = 0.030, p <0.05, p = 0.004, p <0.001, respectively). As a result of the nutrition education we provided in our study, an increase in the number of snacks, an increase in physical activity was observed, a positive development was observed in the knowledge and attitude regarding healthy nutrition, and improvements were observed in anthropometric measurements. As can be seen in the results of our study, individual healthy nutrition education provided by family physicians led to improvements in knowledge, attitude, and anthropometric measurements. Healthy nutrition recommendations to be given to every adult applying to the family health center, regardless of the reason for application, should be implemented and encouraged in family medicine practice.