Evaluation of the Relationship between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Healthy Eating Attitudes and Phase Angle in University Students – A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: This study is an observational descriptive cross-sectional study and it was aimed to evaluate the relationship between healthy eating attitude and phase angle of adherence to the Mediterranean diet in university students. 

Methods: The study was carried out with university students aged 18-33, between August and September 2022. Sociodemographic characteristics, nutritional habits and physical activity status of individuals, information on disease status and anthropometric measurements were recorded in the questionnaire. The adaptation of individuals to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated with the "Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale" and their attitudes towards nutrition were evaluated with the "Attitude Scale Towards Healthy Eating (SBITO)". 

Results: 8.3% of individuals are underweight, 66.7% are normal, 25% are slightly overweight and obese. The median phase angle of women was 6.07° and men 7.3°, and the median phase angle of all individuals was 6.26°. It was determined that 59% of the individuals had low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, 34.7% had acceptable compliance, and 6.3% had strict compliance (p>0.05). It was determined that 16.7% of the individuals exhibited low-medium, 61.8% high, 21.5% ideally high healthy eating attitudes according to the SBITO classification. The phase angle cut-off point was found to be ≥5.94 with the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale and the Attitude Scale Towards Healthy Eating. It was observed that the phase angle had a diagnostic value in predicting adherence to the Mediterranean diet, but this was not statistically significant (p>0.05). A significant positive relationship was determined between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and healthy eating attitude (r=0.310, p=0.001). 

Conclusion: As a result, phase angle evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis in individuals can be used as an indicator in the evaluation of cell health and quality nutrition.