Determination of nutritional knowledge level and Mediterranean diet compliance status of İnönü University students

Inadequate and unbalanced nutrition is a significant problem in Türkiye and university students are among the groups in which nutritional problems are frequently observed. There appears changes in nutritional habits of university students who, with the beginning of their university education, leave their family houses. Excessive time spent outside during the studentship, the habit of cooking and eating at home leaves its place to easily accessible, cheap and unhealthy foods. Another important factor affecting the eating habits of young people is the lack of nutritional information. This research was carried out to determine the knowledge level of university students on nutrition and to determine the effect of receiving nutritional education on the knowledge levels and on compliance with Mediterranean Diet. 216 university students voluntarily participated in the study. In this study, students' demographic characteristics, nutritional status, and physical activity levels were questioned and the 'Nutrition Knowledge Scale for Adults' (NKS) and 'Mediterranean Diet Adaptation Scale' (MDAS) were applied. 43.1% of the students participating in the study were male and 56.9% were female, with a mean age of 21.3±2.3. 81.0% of the students consume two main meals and the most skipped meal is lunch. 70.4% of the students have a healthy body weight. 20.4% of the students have very light activity levels and 56.9% of them havea light activity level. The basic nutritional knowledge level of 49.5% of the students is moderate and the basic nutritional knowledge level of students who received nutritional education is higher (p<0.01, r=0.406). The compliance to the Mediterranean Diet of 47.2% of female students and of 51.6% of male students is moderate. The compliance to the Mediterranean Diet of the students who received nutritional education is higher than those who did not receive nutritional education (p<0.05). As a result, getting nutritional education affects the nutritional knowledge level of students and their adaptation to the Mediterranean Diet, which is accepted as the healthiest way of eating. Individuals should be educated about proper nutrition in order to acquire and maintain healthy eating habits. Keywords: Mediterranean Diet, Nutritional Education, NKS, MDAS