Determination of metabolic syndrome risk factors and nutritional pattern in individuals applying to şanliurfa Eyyübiye Healthy Life Center

The study was conducted on a total of 134 (88.1% were women) adult individuals in order to determine the metabolic syndrome risk factors and nutritional patterns of individuals admitted to the Şanlıurfa Eyyübiye Healthy Life Center. Demographic characteristics, physical activity status, nutritional habits, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, some biochemical parameters and anthropometric measurements of the individuals were determined. Individuals' adherence to the Mediterranean diet was determined by the Prevention with Mediterranean Diet Compliance screener (PREDIMED/MEDAS). Metabolic syndrome risk status of individuals were determined using two separate criteria by AHA/NHLBI (American Heart Association / National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute) and IDF (International Diabetes Federation). According to the AHA/NHLBI criteria, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was found as 24.6% (Males:12.5%, Females:26.2%) and according to the IDF criteria as 29.9% (Males: 37.5%, Females: 28.8%). There was no statistically significant difference between individual's compliance with the Mediterranean diet screener and metabolic syndrome status (p>0.05). When the metabolic syndrome status of individuals were examined according to both AHA/NHLBI and IDF criteria; statistically significant differences were found between metabolic syndrome and age, educational status, marital status, anthropometric measurements (height, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, neck circumference, waist to/height ratio, body fat percentage), biochemical parameters (fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides) and blood pressure values (p<0.05). As a result, dietitians should be widely employed and take an active role in primary health care such as in primary health centers in the management of nutrition programs accordingly for increasing awareness of nutrition and for the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome which is an important public health problem in the community. Keywords: Metabolic Syndrome, Mediterranean Diet Screener, Nutritional Status