Are Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors and Levels of Nutritional Knowledge Associated with Obesity and Anthropometric Indicators of Chronic Disease Risk Among Healthcare Workers?

Objectives: This study examined sustainable and healthy eating behaviors, nutrition knowledge levels, obesity status, and anthropometric indicators associated with chronic disease risk among healthcare workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1070 healthcare workers aged 22-59 years in Isparta, Türkiye. Data were collected using a face-to-face questionnaire, the Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors Scale (SHE), the Nutrition Knowledge Level Scale for Adults (NKLSA), and anthropometric measurements. Results: Overall, 27.9% of participants were overweight and 27.1% had obesity. Anthropometric risk status was identified in 55.8% according to waist circumference, 54.8% according to neck circumference, 55.0% according to waist-to-hip ratio, and 70.2% according to waist-to-height ratio. The mean SHE score was 126.53 ± 61.65. SHE scores decreased across BMI groups from underweight to obesity (189.37 ± 20.07 to 105.70 ± 56.81; p < 0.001). SHE was strongly correlated with NKLSA (r = 0.955; 95% CI: 0.950-0.960) and negatively correlated with BMI (r = -0.333), waist circumference (r = -0.211), waist-to-hip ratio (r = -0.230), and waist-to-height ratio (r = -0.196). Conclusions: Nutrition knowledge, sustainable healthy eating behavior, and anthropometric risk indicators were closely interrelated among healthcare workers. High nutrition knowledge scores coexisted with a high burden of overweight, obesity, and anthropometric risk, suggesting a gap between knowledge and body-weight status that may be shaped by occupational and lifestyle-related factors.