Examination of Exercise and Nutrition Status of University Students The Case of Kutahya Province

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the exercise levels and nutritional behaviors of university students according to various variables. A total of 679 students studying at Kütahya Dumlupınar University participated in the study. The sample group was determined by convenience sampling method. It was evaluated with the "Three-factor nutrition questionnaire (TFEQ-18)" as a measurement tool. Correlation, independent sample test (T-test) and one-way analysis of variance (One-Way ANOVA) were applied to the obtained data. There was a difference in the emotional eating sub-dimension of the participants' exercise and nutrition status according to the variables of gender and weekly sports practice (days), p<0.05. There was no significance in terms of licensed sports practice and level of knowledge about nutrition, p>0.05. There is a moderate relationship between the level of knowledge about nutrition and sports practice (r=.514), between sensitivity to hunger and nutrition total score (r=.672), between emotional eating and nutrition total score (r=.617), and between conscious eating and nutrition total score (r=.672). As a result, attitudes towards nutrition increase in university students depending on the increase in the tendency to do sports. The nutritional attitudes of females are ahead of males. University students should be made aware of nutrition and directed to physical activity.