The Relationship Between Exercise Addiction Levels and Healthy Nutrition Levels of Students Studying at the Faculty of Health Sciences

Abstract

Introduction: Exercise is planned, structured, voluntary, continuous activities aimed at improving one or more elements of physical fitness. One aspect of healthy lifestyle behaviors is nutrition, while another aspect is exercise and physical activity. Many studies in the literature emphasize the physical, psychological, and physiological benefits of regular physical exercise. Therefore, in our study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between exercise addiction levels and healthy nutrition levels of students studying at the faculty of health sciences. Method: The study was conducted on 133 students studying at the faculty of health sciences. Participants' demographic and income information was recorded. Exercise dependence levels were evaluated with the Exercise Dependence Scale, and nutritional levels were evaluated with the Nutrition Exercise Behavior Scale. Results: Average age and body mass index of the participants, respectively; It was 21.83±4.21 and 18.13±3.09. It was found that there was a correlation between the exercise addiction levels of the participants and their healthy eating habits (p<0.001-r=0.386). In addition, it was found that there was no significant correlation with the subscale evaluating unhealthy nutrition parameters (p=0.401-r=0.073). Conclusion: It has been observed that there is a positive correlation between exercise addiction and healthy nutrition levels of students studying at the faculty of health sciences. Accordingly, it is seen that more attention is paid to the level of exercise and healthy nutrition. We believe that exercise should be an integral part of daily activities for a healthy diet.