The Relationship of Food Literacy and Sustainable Consumption Behaviors with Anthropometric Measurements during the Covid-19 Pandemic Period: A Sample from Turkey

Abstract

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of food literacy and sustainable consumption behaviors on nutritional status during the pandemic in Turkey.

Methods

The study was conducted between May and July 2021 with a questionnaire delivered in a digital environment (social media, Twitter/Facebook/Instagram) to 200 volunteer adults aged 20–65. With this questionnaire form, sociodemographic characteristics, general information, and consumer behaviors of the individuals were obtained. Anthropometric measurements (height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, waist/hip ratio, and waist/height ratio) of the individuals were recorded online as self-report. The Self Perceived Food Literacy (SPFL) Scale was administered to measure nutritional literacy levels. To measure the sustainable consumption behaviors of the individuals, the Sustainable Consumption Behavior (SCB) Scale was administered.

Results

We found that 87.2% of women and 40% of men had heard of sustainable nutrition before (p < 0.001). The mean total score of SCB was statistically significantly higher in women than in men (3.1 ± 0.48 in women, 2.9 ± 0.69 in men, p < 0.05). The mean score of SPFL was 3.31 ± 0.275 in women, while it was 3.05 ± 0.395 in men. There was a statistically significant relationship between SPFL mean scores and gender (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

There was a statistically significant negative relationship between SPFL score and BMI, body weight, and waist/hip ratio. There was a statistically significant negative relationship between the SCB and waist/hip ratio. Food literacy and sustainable consumption behaviors are associated with anthropometric measurements. Sustainable nutrition, sustainable consumption behaviors, and food literacy should be considered as a whole. Trainings should be increased to raise awareness of individuals about food literacy.

Keywords:

• Food literacy
• sustainable nutrition
• pandemic
• nutrition status
• sustainable consumption behaviors

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all the participants who devoted their time to participate in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).