Determination of compliances status of Hasan Kalyoncu University Faculty of Health Sciences' students' to food literacy and mediterranean diet quality index

This study aims to determine the adaptation status of Hasan Kalyoncu University Faculty of Health Sciences to food literacy and Mediterranean diet quality index and to investigate the relationship between food literacy and diet quality. December 2020 - March 2021, the research was conducted among 204 volunteer individuals 19,6% of whom were male (n:40) and 80,4% of whom were female (n:164) active undergraduate students at Hasan Kalyoncu University Faculty of Health Sciences. In this study, students were divided into 3 groups: nutrition and dietetics, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, and nursing according to their departments. The questionnaire form was used to determine the general information of the students, their eating habits, frequency of food consumption, height, and body weight based on the students' statements. The Short Form of Food Literacy (SFLQ) and the Mediterranean diet quality index (KIDMED) were applied. The mean age of the students is 21,0±2,0 years. The mean BMI of the students was 23,2±3,1 kg/m² in men and 21,6±2,9 kg/m² in women. The majority of students (%72,1) have a normal BMI(≥18,5-<24,9 kg/m²). The mean KIDMED score of the students is 5,2±1,4. 3,4% of the students have optimal diet quality and 11.8% have low diet quality, while 84,8% of the students' diet should be interfered with. The mean of the students from the SFLQ scale, which is scored between 0-52, is 35,7±6,4 points. 81,4% of the students have a high level of food literacy and 18,6% have a low level of food literacy. A positive and statistically significant relationship was found between food literacy and diet quality (r= ,184, p<0,01). There was a positive significant correlation between food literacy and body mass index (r= -,052, p<0,01). Keywords: Food literacy, diet quality, food literacy questionnaire, nutrition literacy