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.