Understanding sustainable food choices is key to shifting consumer behavior toward sustainable food consumption. This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the Sustainable Food Choice Questionnaire (SUS-FCQ) in 602 Turkish adults. The linguistic equivalence of the SUS-FCQ was provided using the standard translation–back translation method, content validity, and pilot testing. Then, the convergent, discriminant, and construct (exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)) validity and reliability (test–retest and internal consistency) were evaluated. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was found to be excellent (0.961) and the intraclass correlation coefficient was found to be moderate (0.689) using the test–retest method. As a result of the EFA, two-factor structures were found, and the factor loadings of the items were 0.651 and 0.878. These factors explained 79.17% of the total variance, and discriminant and convergent validity was provided for both factors. The results of this study suggest that the adapted SUS-FCQ is valid and reliable for determining sustainable food choice motives in the Turkish population. Therefore, the SUS-FCQ can be a useful instrument to encourage people to shift toward and adhere to sustainable food consumption.

Food choices are influenced by knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KABs); therefore, determining KABs regarding salt is a key point for salt reduction, which is a primary public health problem in Turkey. This study aimed to assess salt-related KABs in Turkey. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 415 adults in a hospital in Turkey. A structured questionnaire assessing salt-related KABs was administered, and blood pressure was measured. The majority of participants were aware of the health risks associated with high salt intake. Higher overall attitude scores increased the odds of performing most behaviors to reduce salt, except for checking food labels, using spices instead of salt, and purchasing foods labeled as low-sodium, by almost three-fold. These results suggest that both normotensive and hypertensive adults need to improve their knowledge of the health effects and dietary sources of salt, and how to reduce it. Salt-related KABs were not found to be aligned with all positive attitudes toward salt consumption; this indicates the need for regulations that operate independently of public perceptions, such as policies for reducing salt in the food industry and making reduced-salt products more affordable to encourage healthier food choices.

Purpose: It is controversial which anthropometric indexes are the best in predicting the risk of hypertension and how anthropometric measurements are related to blood pressure (BP). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between BP and anthropometric indexes and to determine the best predictors for hypertension risk. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 415 consecutive participants (161 men, mean age: 33.4 years) aged 18–88 years in Istanbul, Turkey. Weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and neck circumference (NC) and BP were measured by well-trained personnel. Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. Pearson correlation, linear regression, and multivariate analyses were used to assess the relationship between anthropometric measurements and SBP, DBP, using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23.0. Results: The systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were related to weight, WC, NC, BMI, and WHtR ( P < 0.05). Linear regression analyses showed BMI and WC as independent risk factors for SBP with an increase by 1.11 mmHg in men ( P = 0.036) and 1.59 mmHg in women ( P = 0.001) in SBP when BMI increased 1 unit, while SBP increases by 0.2 mmHg when WC increases by 1 unit regardless of gender ( P = 0.013). Conclusion: Our results showed that BMI and WC are related to BP and important predictors of hypertension risk. Therefore, the uses of BMI and WC are recommended as screening tools for the prediction of hypertension risk among Turkish adults.

Background: Food consumption and diet are strongly associated with sustainability. The Sustainable HEalthy Diet index was developed to measure the nutritional, environmental, and sociocultural components of sustainable diets and healthy eating patterns. However, a methodological approach has yet to be proposed for Turkish adults. This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the SHED index in Turkish adults. Methods: Data were collected from 558 healthy adults using a web-based questionnaire. Internal consistency reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, and repeatability was evaluated using the test-retest method. Construct validity was investigated using the EAT-Lancet diet and the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), and the adapted SHED index structures’ accordance was evaluated with confirmatory factor analysis. Results: Good reliability and repeatability were found (r = 0.758 and 0.795, respectively). A higher SHED index score was related to a greater intake of grains, fruits, and vegetables and a lower intake of meat, eggs, and dairy compared to EAT-Lancet diet food groups. A higher SHED index score was associated with a lower saturated fat and added sugar intake. While the SHED index was associated with greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet (r = 0.334, p < 0.001), it was negatively associated with non-alcoholic and diet non-alcoholic beverage consumption (r = −0.257 and −0.264, respectively; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The SHED index showed good validity and reliability in Turkish adults. Our results suggest that the SHED index can be used in epidemiological and intervention studies because it allows the measurement of diets in terms of health and sustainability to propose adaptations accordingly.

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, gıda okuryazarlığının, yetişkinlerde, Akdeniz diyetine uyum ve beslenmeyle ilintili biyokimyasal parametreler (açlık glikozu, HDL, LDL ve toplam kolesterol, trigliserit, hemoglobin ve albümin) ile ilişkisini incelemektir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Araştırma Ekim 2022-Haziran 2023 tarihleri arasında, İstanbul’da, Süleyman Yalçın Şehir Hastanesi’ne başvuran toplam 245 yetişkin ile yürütülmüştür. Bireylerin genel bilgileri, gıda okuryazarlığı ve Akdeniz diyetine uyumu araştırmacılar tarafından yüz yüze sorgulanmıştır. Gıda okuryazarlığı, Gıda Okuryazarlığı Anketi Kısa Form (SFLQ) ile, Akdeniz diyetine uyum ise Akdeniz diyetine uyum ölçeği (MEDAS) ile saptanmıştır Katılımcıların biyokimyasal bulguları hastane dosyalarındaki mevcut güncel kayıtlardan elde edilmiştir. Bulgular: Katılımcıların %51,4’ünde gıda okuryazarlığının ve %67,5’inde Akdeniz diyetine uyumun yetersiz olduğu, kadınların gıda okuryazarlığı düzeyinin erkeklerden yüksek olduğu bulunmuştur (p<0,05). Gıda okuryazarlığı ile Akdeniz diyetine uyum arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmamıştır. Gıda okuryazarlığı yeterli olan grupta yetersiz gruba göre, HDL, hemoglobin ve albümin seviyelerinin yüksek (p<0,05), LDL, toplam kolesterol ve trigliserit seviyelerinin düşük olduğu belirlenmiştir. Erkeklerde gıda okuryazarlığı puanının HDL ve albümin ile pozitif yönlü orta düzeyde korelasyon; kadınlarda ise açlık kan glikozu ile negatif, albümin ile pozitif korelasyon gösterdiği saptanmıştır. Sonuç: Bu çalışmada yetişkinlerde gıda okuryazarlığı ve Akdeniz diyetine uyumun yetersiz olduğu belirlenmiştir. Gıda okuryazarlığı ile Akdeniz diyetine uyum arasında bir ilişki bulunmamış ancak gıda okuryazarlığının beslenmeyle ilintili biyokimyasal göstergelerle ilişkili olduğu gösterilmiştir. Gıda okuryazarlığı optimal sağlıkla ilişkili biyokimyasal bulgular ile pozitif ilişkilidir, gıda okuryazarlığının geliştirilmesi beslenmeyle ilintili kronik hastalık risklerinin kontrol edilmesinde etkili olabilir.

Rapid advances in technology, particularly the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology into our lives, have increased interest in digital twin (DT) technology, which is a dynamic virtual model of a physical system. In the healthcare sector, DT is also seen as having the potential to bring about lasting transformation in areas such as drug development, advanced diagnostics and preventive treatment, clinical research, and personalized medicine. In the coming years, DT is expected to enable personalized nutrition by integrating genetic, epigenetic, microbiome, metabolic, immunological, and lifestyle data into comprehensive virtual models. This new paradigm has the potential to provide groundbreaking opportunities for the management and prevention of various nutrition-related diseases, obesity, and support healthy aging. Although early research in the field of nutrition is promising, various challenges and limitations persist, including data standardization, privacy, data quality and security, ethical concerns, high costs, scalability, and clinical validation issues. Currently, the use of DT in the field of nutrition and dietetics remains in the proof-of-concept stage. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that as these limitations are overcome over time, this technology will transform and guide global healthcare systems. This narrative review defines the concept of DT from a healthcare perspective, summarizes its current applications in nutrition and dietetics, and outlines its high potential, key limitations, and challenges.