The effect of media tools on food selection and nutritional behaviour of students of Başkent University

Ezgi Mutlu, the effect of media tools on food selection and nutritional behaviour of students of Başkent University, Başkent University Institute of Health Sciences, Master Degree of Public Health Thesis 2018 The aim of this study is to determine the effect of the media tools on Baskent university students' nutrition behavior and food decision. This descriptive study included 373 students who were studying at Başkent University in the academic year 2017-2018 and who agreed to participate research. Survey forms were applied to the students under observation. 70,4% of the students who participated in the survey were females and 29,6% were males. The mean age of the students was 20,7 ± 1,9 years. 37,9% of the students have regular physical activity and 30.4% of them do bodybuilding and muscle strengthening exercises. 72% of the students were in normal weight, 12.8% were underweight, 12,8% were overweight and 2,5% were obese. More than half of the students (80,4%) reported skipping one or more of breakfast, lunch and / or dinner. 81,7% of the students reported they were not consuming milk and dairy products, 75,1% of them were not consuming meat products, 80,1% of them were not consuming leguminous seeds, 82,3% of them were not consuming nuts / fatty seeds in recommended daily amount. The percentages of students consuming in recommended daily allowance bread and grain, vegetable and fruit groups were 2,8%; 1,4% and 2,2% respectively. 62% of the students reported they were interested in nutrition / physical activity / diet issues and topics. 23,1% of the students were following nutrition / physical activity / diet topics in the media. 95,5% of the students were following these topics over the internet and 30, 8% of them were following social media accounts of some famous people concerned with these topics. Regarding nutrition / diet / physical activity topics in the media, 16,8% of the students reported that they think that the experts should do publish and only these people should be considered to be source of information; 9,7% said that information pollution should be avoided; while 7,8% of were thinking that people should be conscious and informed correctly. In conclusion, most of the students are not healthy and are affected by the media. It is considered appropriate to provide students with a balanced and adequate education on nutrition and to raise awareness that every information in the media may not be accurate. Key words: Media, nutrition, eating habits, food preferences