ANALYTIC STUDY OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’NUTRITIONAL HABITS AND ATTITUDES AS A PART OF SOCIETY IN TURKEY

The importance of proper nutrition as one of the enhancing nutrition attitudes, knowledge and important aspects of lifestyle were emphasized in the practices of students which has high importance, because recent years and the trend towards healthier diets subsequently will lead to more food-conscious increased. The aim of this research is to understanding the nutrition knowledge, attitude and food habits of students at higher education programmes. This study has been carried out using subjects of 618 students consisting of 237 female and 381 male students attend from the educational programs present at the Namik Kemal University. A Likert type scale was used to evaluate each of the questions. The collected data was analysed by t-test, one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient (P< 0.05). In addition, this result supported by principal component analysis (PCA), descriptive statistical analysis which students' attitudes on nutritional habits. In research there was significant differences in the knowledge level between students of different departments (F= 3.06; p< 0.001). Principal component analysis was used to identify four main dietary patterns, and analysis of variance employed to examine the characteristics associated with them. Factor analysis reduced the 15 independent variables into four factor groups. This paper provides a unique insight into a wide range of nutritional habits among young's' in Turkey (eg vegetables, fast foods, milk products etc.-related) and reflects on the responses obtained from policy makers' towards food habits in Turkey.