Unhealthy Diets and Obesity Contribute to Noncommunicable Diseases Worldwide

Research findings on public health discuss the importance of dieting self-efficacy and nutrition knowledge in influencing eating behavior. A cross-sectional study of 1457 adults in Erzurum, Turkiye, examined the relationship between dieting self-efficacy, weight management-related nutrition knowledge, and dietary pattern. The study found that participants with higher weight-management knowledge and dieting self-efficacy had lower overall dietary pattern, highlighting the need for both knowledge and self-efficacy to ensure healthy eating.

Key Takeaways:

• The study recruited 1457 adults (aged 19-64) from Erzurum, Turkiye, to examine the relationship between dieting self-efficacy, weight management-related nutrition knowledge, and dietary pattern.
• The sample had a median age of 24 years, and 10.2% were obese, indicating a significant prevalence of obesity in the study population.
• The study found that dieting self-efficacy and nutrition knowledge were positively correlated with each other, suggesting a synergistic effect on eating behavior.
• Participants with higher weight-management knowledge and dieting self-efficacy had lower overall dietary pattern, indicating a positive association between knowledge, self-efficacy, and healthy eating.
• The study highlights the importance of both knowledge and self-efficacy in ensuring healthy eating, suggesting that knowledge alone is not enough to guarantee healthy eating habits.
• The study has implications for public health initiatives aimed at promoting healthy eating and reducing the burden of noncommunicable diseases worldwide.
• The study was conducted by Ismail Mucahit Alptekin and Emre Duman of Ataturk University, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences.

Statistics:

• 1457 adults (aged 19-64) participated in the cross-sectional study from Erzurum, Turkiye.
• The sample had a median age of 24 years.
• 10.2% of the participants were obese.
• The study found a significant positive correlation between dieting self-efficacy and nutrition knowledge (r = 0.12, p < 0.05).
• Participants with higher weight-management knowledge and dieting self-efficacy had a lower overall dietary pattern.

Sources:

• Association of dieting self-efficacy, weight management nutrition knowledge, physical activity, and dietary pattern among Turkish adults: a cross-sectional study (2025,25(1):1-13). BMC Public Health. BMC. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-24848-w.
• Ismail Mucahit Alptekin, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ataturk University.
• Emre Duman, additional author.