Although edible insects (EIs) are encouraged as a sustainable source of protein, their consumption is not as generalised as other types of food that are internationally accepted. While in some regions of the world, EIs are part of the gastronomic and cultural traditions, in other regions, people are not so receptive to this type of food, and some people even express some disgust towards it. Hence, this research focused on the habits of the participants regarding the consumption of insects as well as their perceptions about EIs being or not a part of the local culture or gastronomic patrimony. A questionnaire survey was implemented in fourteen countries (Brazil, Croatia, Greece, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey), and globally, 7222 adult participants responded to the questionnaire. SPSS software (version 28) was used to process the data and carry out chi-square tests and Factor Analyses (FA). The obtained results showed significant differences between countries for all the questions included in the survey, either those regarding the habits of the participants or their opinions about the facts linked with EI tradition or cultural aspects. It was found that participants from Mexico consume EIs more than in all other countries and that strong motivations that would lead to consumption among those who do not consume include curiosity and food shortage. The solution obtained with FA considering the ten statements of the scale consisted of two factors: F1—Culture and Tradition of EIs (α = 0.675) and F2—Acceptance of EIs (α = 0.614). In conclusion, the consumption of EIs and the perceptions of people are highly variable according to geographic location and cultural environment.

The relationships between diet quality, malnutrition status and dietary intake and health problems such as frailty, sarcopenia, low physical function and depression, which are frequently observed in older individuals, are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the associations between malnutrition, diet quality, and dietary intake and frailty, sarcopenia, low physical function, and depression in elderly individuals. The Edmonton Frailty Scale (EFS), Sarcopenia Rapid Screening Test (SARC-F), Katz Activities of Daily Living Scale (KATZ) for the Elderly, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)-Short Form, and Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scales (MEDAS) were administered to all study participants (n = 695) to determine frailty, sarcopenia, physical status, depression status, nutritional status and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. The participants' dietary acid load was assessed via the potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP) indicators. Compared with men, women had significantly greater levels of frailty and sarcopenia (p < 0.05). Frailty and sarcopenia status were correlated with each other, and GDS scores increased significantly, whereas KATZ scores decreased as their severity increased (p < 0.05). MNA and MEDAS scores correlated with EFS (r = -0.508, p < 0.001; r = -0.084, p = 0.027, respectively), SARC-F (r = -0.358, p < 0.001; r = -0.126; p = 0.001, respectively), and GDS (r = -0.397, p < 0.001, r = -0,243, p < 0,001, respectively), whereas KATZ and MNA (r = 0,439) scores were found to be positively correlated with energy (r = 0,133) and protein (r = 0,119) intake (p < 0,05). As the PRAL score increased, the GDS (r = -0.082; p = 0.031), the SARC-F (r = -0.087; p = 0.022), and the EFS (r = -119, p = 0.002) decreased significantly. Each 1-unit increase in the MNA score caused decreases of 0.857, 0.431, and 1.201 units in the EFS, SARC-F, and GDS, respectively, and an increase of 0.190 units in the KATZ. Malnutrition status is positively associated with frailty, sarcopenia, low physical activity, and depression.

The study aims to determine water and beverage consumption status and related factors in daily nutrition of adults living in Turkey. This study was conducted with 6332 adults aged 18–65 years across Turkey. Demographics and anthropometric data of subjects, their daily water and beverage consumption habits were explored using the retrospective 24-hour recall method. Water and black tea were the most consumed beverages (1801.38 ± 11.06 mL/day, 455 ± 6.10 mL/day, respectively). Increased BMI was associated with a significantly decreased rate of insufficient fluid intake among the participants. Underweight individuals were found to be consuming less (by 0.558 times) fluid compared to those with normal BMI, while obese individuals appeared to have greater energy intake from daily fluid consumption (by 1.111 times). This study showed a relationship between water and beverage intake and anthropometric measurements, suggesting that further research on personalized water intake strategies is beneficial in weight management.

This study aims to identify changes in diet, physical activity, sleep duration, and lifestyle behaviors, which are the main determinants of health, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in nutrition, physical activity, and sleep patterns of 3294 adults (18-65 years old) living in Turkey were examined through an online questionnaire. Evaluation of the periods before and during the pandemic revealed a significant increase in body weight and BMI values in both genders (70.5±15.12 kg, 71.5±15.58 kg, p