Determination of eating behavior change in individuals receiving online weight loss diet consultancy

Elagöz, H. (2025). Determination of Eating Behavior Changes in Individuals Receiving Online Weight Loss Diet Counseling. Master's, İstanbul Atlas University Postgraduate Education Institute, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, İstanbul. Determination of Behavior Change. Master's Thesis, Istanbul Atlas University Graduate Education Institute, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Istanbul. This thesis study was conducted to evaluate the change in eating behavior in adults aged 18-65 who received online weight loss counseling from a dietitian. Data were collected by the researcher using the Form Survey method online on a voluntary basis, and the Social Media Trust/Confirmation Scale, the Dutch Eating Behavior (DEBQ) Questionnaire and the Diet Satisfaction Scale were used. The study was conducted with a total of 173 participants, 148 of whom were female (85.5%) and 25 of whom were male (14.5%). The mean age of the female participants was 36 ± 11.6 years, and the mean age of the male participants was 38.4 ± 13.2 years. The mean age of all participants was 36.6 ± 11.8 years. It was observed that 35.8% of the female and 56% of the male participants were overweight. In terms of chronic disease status, it was determined that the majority of the participants did not have any chronic disease. 65.4% of the women and 63.5% of the men participating in the study agreed that they enjoyed what they ate and that they consumed enough variety with the online weight loss diet. It was observed that the female participants lost an average of 1.2 kg and the male participants lost an average of 1.4 kg of body weight in 1 week, and thus it was seen that the online diet consultancy had a positive effect on the weight loss of the individuals. At the end of this study, it was observed that participants with higher weights continued to receive online weight loss diet consultancy for a longer period of time, that the online weight loss diet they received was easy to apply at home and outside the home, made them feel good physically, and that it was affordable for working/non-working participants. It was stated that the online weight loss program applied to the participants could be integrated into life and applied for a lifetime. Online diet consultancy services have significant potential to improve the quality of life of individuals. However, the ethical aspects of these services should be carefully considered and provided with an understanding that prioritizes the health and rights of individuals. Keywords: Online Diet, Nutrition, Weight Loss, Social Media