Nutritional literacy levels of university academic and administrative staff: A cross-sectional study from Turkey

Abstract

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional literacy levels of university academic and administrative staff.

Methods

Data were collected with a questionnaire including sociodemographic variables, some eating habits, and the Nutritional Literacy Assessment Tool of Adults. A total of 413 individuals, 211 women (51.1%) and 202 men (48.9%), aged 23–64 (mean: 37.41 ± 10.04 years), were included in the study. The data obtained were evaluated with the SPSS 25.0 statistical package program.

Results

It was found that the nutritional literacy level of 18.15% of the participants is at the borderline, 81.85 are sufficient. Women's nutrition literacy scores are significantly higher than men's (p = 0.034). A significant relationship was found between nutritional literacy, socioeconomic status, and some eating habits (p < 0.05). The average daily water consumption of individuals with sufficient nutritional literacy is statistically significantly higher than those with borderline nutritional literacy (p < 0.001). It was determined that individuals with borderline nutritional literacy skipped meals more frequently (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The present study suggests that nutritional literacy may be effective in developing healthy eating behaviors. The study's results can guide the determination of methods that will improve nutritional literacy and increase awareness in the future.