Evaluation of Food Literacy, Hedonic Hunger, Depression and Some Nutritional Habits in Healthcare Professionals

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate hedonic hunger, depression and some dietary habits according to food literacy scores in healthcare workers.

Subjects and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted with the voluntary participation of 177 healthcare workers. Data were collected using a questionnaire form included demographic data, Power of Food Scale (PFS-Tr), Short Food Literacy Questionnaire (SFLQ), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Participants were divided into two groups based on their food literacy scores. SPSS 22.0 package program was used for data analysis.

Results: Of the participants, 73.4% were women and 26.6% were men healthcare workers. The mean food literacy score was found to be 34.54±6.47. According to food literacy scores, age, educational status and body mass index (BMI) were different between the groups (p<0.05), while total hedonic hunger score was not (p>0.05). Among the sub-factors of the power of food scale, “availability of food” score was found to be higher in individuals with low food literacy (p<0.05). When eating habits were evaluated, it was found that the reasons for skipping meals differed between food literacy groups (p<0.05).

Conclusion: In this study, many factors were found to be different between the groups according to food literacy scores. Considering these characteristics of healthcare professional educations to increase food literacy can be planned.