Abstract:

Objective: This study was carried out to evaluate the relationship of adult individuals attitudes towards healthy nutrition and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) with blood biochemical parameters [fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and creatinine] and anthropometric measurements [body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist/height ratio, body fat weight and percentage]. Methods: The study was conducted with 120 volunteers (30 men, 90 women) aged 20-64 who were admitted to Gaziosmanpaşa Municipality Barrier-Free Life and Solidarity Center for dietitian service between 15 December 2021-15 June 2022. Questionnaire with 48 questions examining sociodemographic characteristics, eating habits, meal order and frequency, Attitude Scale for Healthy Nutrition (ASHN) consisting of 21 questions, MD Assessment Tool (MDAT) consisting of 14 questions, and Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) were applied to the individuals participating in the study by face to face interview method. Results: In the study, as the adherence to the MD increased in male individuals, the body fat percentage and weight, waist/height ratio, triglyceride, total and LDL-cholesterol, AST and ALT levels decreased significantly, HDL-cholesterol level statistically significantly increased (p<0.05). As the adherence to the MD increased in female individuals, the BMI, body fat percentage and waist/length ratio and body fat weight values, and triglyceride, total and LDL-cholesterol levels decreased significantly (p<0.05). Conclusion: As a result, a nutritional model suitable with the MD has a positive effect on anthropometric measurements and blood biochemical parameters in adults. The MDcan be considered as a protective nutrition model in the prevention of various diseases.

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