Study on Eating Habits and Physical Activity Status in Turkey
Pages 173-181
Nazif Bagriacik, Funda Elmacioglu, Sule Sakar, Ceren Yolacan and Sema Yildiz

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-5634.2013.02.04.4

Published: 30 December 2013

Abstract: The present study aimed to evaluate eating habits and physical activity status of Turkish population, and to determine nutritional changes. This study was conducted in 12 provinces of 11 regions of NUTS level 1 via a face-to-face interview using a pre-prepared questionnaire and included 1536 subjects aged >15 years with different socioeconomic statuses who eat out at least once in a month.

Of the subjects, 33.6% were overweight, 18.4% were obese and 48% had normal weight.

The rates of subjects calculating calorie intake (8.4%) and reading nutrition facts label (29.1%) were increased with increasing BMI.

The most frequently consumed foods were bread, cheese and olive at breakfast, bread, soup, salad, yoghurt, and pilaf at lunch and toast, sandwiches, and Turkish bagels at snacks.

The mean duration of meals was <30 min in 85.8% of the subjects.

The most commonly consumed non-alcoholic beverages were tea (95.7%), coffee (58.7%), Turkish yoghurt drink (56.1%), and carbonated beverages (48.3%). Milk consumption was low (20.2%).

Alcohol consumption rate was 26.6%. The rate of subjects doing sports was 14.8%, which decreased with increasing age and BMI. In Turkish population, eating habits continued to be traditional, eating awareness and the rate of sport activities were very low.