Aim: Food labels (FL) is not only an information tool for interpreting the nutritional value and function of food, but also a strategy for the prevention of obesity and related chronic diseases. Therefore, it is important to understand attitudes and behaviors towards FL. The aim of this study was to determine the attitudes and behaviors of adults towards reading FL and to evaluate the factors affecting FL reading habits. Method: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 1063 adult volunteers aged 18-64 years with at least high school education living in Türkiye. An online questionnaire consisting of the Food Label Reading Attitude Scale (FLRAS) was administered to individuals to determine their general characteristics and FL reading attitudes and behaviors. Individuals' weight and height measurements were self-reported. Body mass index (BMI) values were calculated by the researcher. Results: Approximately 75% of the participants had undergraduate/graduate level education and 60% were married. Approximately 70% of the individuals reported that their income was equal to or more than their expenses. The average FLRAS score of the individuals was 76.4±17.6. The score was higher in singles (p<0.05). It was determined that individuals gave the most importance to the expiry date, production date and shelf life of the product in label information, respectively. Participants reported that they paid the most attention to the labels when they were going to buy the product for the first time, when they wanted to check the nutritional content and when they were going to compare the same product of two different brands, respectively. Conclusion: It was determined that individuals with high school and above education level, especially single individuals, had good FL reading attitudes. It was found that they paid more attention to the production/consumption date and shelf life in label information. However, individuals do not show the same attitude towards nutrient content. Food labels can guide individuals to choose healthy foods. Increasing the awareness of label reading is very important for adequate and balanced nutrition in society.
Amaç: Besin etiketleri (BE) yalnızca besinin, besin değerini ve işlevini yorumlamaya yönelik bir bilgi aracı değil aynı zamanda obezite ve ilişkili kronik hastalıkların önlenmesine ilişkin bir stratejidir. Dolayısıyla besin etiketlerine yönelik tutum ve davranışların anlaşılması önemlidir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, bireylerin BE okumaya yönelik tutum ve davranışlarının belirlenmesi ve BE okuma alışkanlıklarını etkileyen etmenlerin değerlendirilmesidir. Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı ve kesitsel nitelikteki bu çalışma, Türkiye’de yaşayan, 18-64 yaş aralığındaki en az lise düzeyinde eğitimi olan 1063 yetişkin gönüllü birey ile yürütülmüştür. Bireylere genel özellikleri ve BE okuma tutum ve davranışlarını belirlemeye yönelik Besin Etiketi Okuma Tutum Ölçeği (BEOTÖ)’nden oluşan online bir anket formu uygulanmıştır. Bireylerin vücut ağırlığı ve boy uzunluğu ölçümleri kendi beyanlarına dayalı olarak sorgulanmıştır. Beden kütle indeksi (BKİ) değerleri ise araştırmacı tarafından hesaplanmıştır. Bulgular: Katılımcıların yaklaşık %75’i lisans/lisansüstü düzeyde eğitim seviyesinde ve %60’ı evlidir. Bireylerin yaklaşık %70’i gelir durumunun giderine eşit veya daha fazla olduğunu beyan etmiştir. Bireylerin ortalama BEOTÖ skoru 76.4±17.6’tür. Skor bekarlarda daha yüksektir (p<0.05). Bireylerin etiket bilgisinde en fazla üretim tüketim tarihi ve raf ömrünü önemsedikleri gözlenmiş; özellikle yeni bir ürün alırken ya da farklı markalara ait ürünleri kıyaslarken besin etiketlerini kontrol ettikleri belirlenmiştir. Sonuç: Lise ve üzeri eğitim düzeyindeki bireylerde, özellikle bekarların BEOT’nin daha iyi olduğu görülmüştür. Etiket bilgisinde üretim tüketim tarihi ve raf ömrüne önem verdikleri belirlenmiştir. Ancak, bireyler besin içeriklerine yönelik aynı tutumu göstermemektedirler. Besin etiketleri, bireyleri sağlıklı besinler seçme konusunda yönlendirici olabilir. Etiket okuma bilincinin artırılması, toplumun yeterli ve dengeli beslenmesi için oldukça önem taşımaktadır.
Primary Language | Turkish |
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Subjects | Public Health (Other) |
Journal Section | Articles |
Authors | |
Early Pub Date | April 5, 2024 |
Publication Date | April 30, 2024 |
Submission Date | July 2, 2023 |
Acceptance Date | September 18, 2023 |
Published in Issue | Year 2024 Volume: 17 Issue: 1 |
MEU Journal of Health Sciences Assoc was began to the publishing process in 2008 under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Gönül Aslan, Editor-in-Chief, and affiliated to Mersin University Institute of Health Sciences. In March 2015, Prof. Dr. Caferi Tayyar Şaşmaz undertook the Editor-in Chief position and since then he has been in charge.
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