Evaluation of awareness, knowledge, and attitudes level of sustainable nutrition in different age groups: A cross-sectional study

Nilüfer Acar Tek; Merve Şeyda Karaçil Ermumcu; Nazlıcan Erdoğan Gövez; Merve Esra Çıtar Dazıroğlu

doi:10.29333/ejeph/13390

Full Text (PDF)

Nilüfer Acar Tek ¹ , Merve Şeyda Karaçil Ermumcu ² , Nazlıcan Erdoğan Gövez ¹ ^* , Merve Esra Çıtar Dazıroğlu ¹

More Detail

¹ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gazi University, Ankara, TÜRKİYE² Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Akdeniz University, Antalya, TÜRKİYE^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Sustainable nutrition have become widespread throughout the world. It was aimed to question the awareness, knowledge and the attitude of sustainable nutrition in individuals in wide age range. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 3,498 volunteers (1,575 male and 1,923 female) between the ages of 18-95. The questionnaire form was by face to face interview method. The concept of sustainable nutrition was heard higher in women (22.7%), those living in urban areas (22.8%) and in the 18-24 age group (26.6%) (p<0.05). Almost half (49.1%) of the individuals aged 65+ had no idea about the best practice about sustainable nutrition and as the age of the group increased, the knowledge decreased (p<0.05). Only %6 of the individuals heard about the food mile, while the most heard concept was the carbon footprint (28%). There are differences in the attitudes of individuals regarding sustainable nutrition according to gender, age and region of residence.

Keywords

sustainability
nutrition
sustainable nutrition
eco-nutrition
awareness of sustainability

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EUR J ENV PUBLIC HLT, 2023, Volume 7, Issue 4, Article No: em0142

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/13390

Publication date: 12 Jun 2023

Article Views: 1160

Article Downloads: 1308

Open Access References How to cite this article

References

UN. World population prospects. United Nations; 2019. Available at: https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/world-population-prospects-2019.html (Accessed: 29 November 2022).
Lindgren E, Harris F, Dangour AD, et al. Sustainable food systems–a health perspective. Sustain Sci. 2018;13(6):1505-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-018-0586-x PMid:30546484 PMCid:PMC6267166
FAO, UNICEF, WFP, WHO. The state of food security and nutrition in the world and safeguarding against economic slowdowns and downturns. Food and Agriculture Organization; 2019. Available at: https://www.fao.org/3/ca5162en/ca5162en.pdf (Accessed: 29 November 2022).
Alsaffar AA. Sustainable diets: The interaction between food industry, nutrition, health and the environment. Food Sci Technol Int. 2016;22(2):102-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/1082013215572029 PMid:25680370
FAO. Dünyada gıda güvenliği ve beslenme durumu [Food security and nutritional situation in the world]. Food and Agriculture Organization; 2019. http://www.fao.org/3/ca5249tr/ca5249tr.pdf (Accessed: 29 November 2022).
FAO. Hunger and food security. Food and Agriculture Organization; 2021. Available at: http://www.fao.org/hunger/en/ (Accessed: 29 November 2022).
UN. Sustainable development goals zero hunger. United Nations; 2020. Available at: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/hunger/ (Accessed: 29 November 2022).
WHO. Obesity and overweight. World Health Organization; 2021. Available at: https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight (Accessed: 29 November 2022).
Burlingame B, Dernini S. Sustainable diets and biodiversity directions and solutions for policy, research and action. World health Organization; 2012. Available at: https://www.fao.org/3/i3004e/i3004e.pdf (Accessed: 29 November 2022).
Dikmen D. 21. yüzyılda sürdürülebilir beslenme [Sustainable nutrition in the 21^st century]. In: Piyal B, editor. 21. yüzyılda halk sağlığı: Değişen dünya, değişen sorunlar [Public health in the 21^st century: Changing world, changing problems]. Ankara: Digital Academy; 2019. p. 71-6.
Friel S, Dangour AD, Garnett T, et al. Public health benefits of strategies to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions: Food and agriculture. Lancet. 2009;374(9706):2016-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61753-0 PMid:19942280
Johnston JL, Fanzo JC, Cogill B. Understanding sustainable diets: A descriptive analysis of the determinants and processes that influence diets and their impact on health, food security, and environmental sustainability. Adv Nutr. 2014;5(4):418-29. https://doi.org/10.3945/an.113.005553 PMid:25022991 PMCid:PMC4085190
UNDP. Sürdürülebilir kalkınma amaçları [Sustainable development goals]. United Nations Development Program; 2021. Available at: https://www.tr.undp.org/content/turkey/tr/home/sustainable-development-goals.html (Accessed: 29 November 2022).
Allen T, Prosperi P. Modeling sustainable food systems. Environ Manage. 2016;57(5):956-75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-016-0664-8 PMid:26932834 PMCid:PMC4828486
Gussow JD, Clancy KL. Dietary guidelines for sustainability. J Nutr Educ. 1986;18(1):1-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3182(86)80255-2
Smetana SM, Bornkessel S, Heinz V. A path from sustainable nutrition to nutritional sustainability of complex food systems. Front Nutr. 2019;6:39. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2019.00039 PMid:31032257 PMCid:PMC6473629
FAO. Bioversity and sustainable diets, united against hunger. Food and Agriculture Organization; 2010. Available at: https://www.fao.org/3/i3004e/i3004e.pdf (Accessed: 29 November 2022).
Barone B, Nogueira RM, Behrens JH. Sustainable diet from the urban Brazilian consumer perspective. Food Res Int. 2019;124:206-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2018.05.027 PMid:31466642
Xiao C, McCright AM. Gender differences in environmental concern: Revisiting the institutional trust hypothesis in the USA. Environ Behav. 2015;47(1):17-37. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916513491571
Ureña FR, Bernabéu R, Olmeda M. Women, men and organic food: Differences in their attitudes and willingness to pay. A Spanish case study. Int J Consum Stud. 2008;32(1):18-26. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1470-6431.2007.00637.x
Khajeshahkoohi A, Najafikani A, Vesal Z. Factors affecting environmental awareness of rural people (case study: Jaghargh Dehestan in Binalud County). J Plan Educ Res. 2015;4(9):85-95. https://doi.org/10.22067/jrrp.v4i9.32742
Verain MC, Bartels J, Dagevos H, Sijtsema SJ, Onwezen MC, Antonides G. Segments of sustainable food consumers: A literature review. Int J Consum Stud. 2012;36(2):123-32. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1470-6431.2011.01082.x
Dernini S, Berry EM, Mediterranean diet: From a healthy diet to a sustainable dietary pattern. Front Nutr. 2015;2:15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2015.00015 PMid:26284249 PMCid:PMC4518218
Burlingame B, Dernini S. Sustainable diets: The Mediterranean diet as an example. Public Health Nutr. 2011;4(12A):2285-7. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980011002527 PMid:22166185
Nelson ME, Hamm MW, Hu FB, Abrams SA, Griffin TS. Alignment of healthy dietary patterns and environmental sustainability: A systematic review. Adv Nutr. 2016;7(6):1005-25. https://doi.org/10.3945/an.116.012567 PMid:28140320 PMCid:PMC5105037
Hoek AC, Pearson D, James SW, Lawrence MA, Friel S. Shrinking the food-print: A qualitative study into consumer perceptions, experiences and attitudes towards healthy and environmentally friendly food behaviours. Appetite. 2017;108:117-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2016.09.030 PMid:27686818
Hoek AC, Pearson D, James SW, Lawrence MA, Friel S. Healthy and environmentally sustainable food choices: Consumer responses to point-of-purchase actions. Food Qual Prefer. 2017;58:94-106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2016.12.008
Allen T, Prosperi P, Cogill B, Flichman G. Agricultural biodiversity, social-ecological systems and sustainable diets. Proc Nutr Soc. 2014;73(4):498-508. https://doi.org/10.1017/S002966511400069X PMid:25068204
Dubey A, Lal R. Carbon footprint and sustainability of agricultural production systems in Punjab, India, and Ohio, USA. J Crop Improv. 2009;23(4):332-50. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427528.2011.567382
Hubacek K, Guan D, Barrett J, Wiedmann T. Environmental implications of urbanization and lifestyle change in China: Ecological and water footprints. J Clean Prod. 2009;17(14):1241-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2009.03.011
Van Passel S. Food miles to assess sustainability: A revision. Sustain Dev. 2013;21(1):1-17. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.485
Tobler C, Visschers VH, Siegrist M. Eating green. Consumers’ willingness to adopt ecological food consumption behaviors. Appetite. 2011;57(3):674-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2011.08.010 PMid:21896294
Weber CL, Matthews HS. Food-miles and the relative climate impacts of food choices in the United States. ACS Publications; 2008. https://doi.org/10.1021/es702969f PMid:18546681
Verain MC, Dagevos H, Antonides G. Sustainable food consumption. Product choice or curtailment? Appetite. 2015;91:375-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2015.04.055 PMid:25913683
Michalský M, Hooda PS. Greenhouse gas emissions of imported and locally produced fruit and vegetable commodities: A quantitative assessment. Environ Sci Policy.2015;48:32-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2014.12.018
Jungbluth N, Tietje O, Scholz RW. Food purchases: Impacts from the consumers’ point of view investigated with a modular LCA. Int J LCA. 2000;5(3):134. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02978609
Lea EJ, Crawford D, Worsley A. Public views of the benefits and barriers to the consumption of a plant-based diet. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006;60(7):828-37. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602387 PMid:16452915
Lea E, Worsley A. Australian consumers’ food-related environmental beliefs and behaviours. Appetite. 2008;50(2-3):207-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2005.07.012 PMid:17604876
Fischer CG, Garnett T. Plates, pyramids, and planets: Developments in national healthy and sustainable dietary guidelines: A state of play assessment. Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization; 2016.
Berners-Lee M, Hoolohan C, Cammack H, Hewitt CN. The relative greenhouse gas impacts of realistic dietary choices. Energy Policy. 2012;43:184-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2011.12.054
Clonan A, Wilson P, Swift JA, Leibovici DG, Holdsworth M. Red and processed meat consumption and purchasing behaviours and attitudes: Impacts for human health, animal welfare and environmental sustainability. Public Health Nutr. 2015;18(13):2446-56. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980015000567 PMid:25766000
Scarborough P, Appleby PN, Mizdrak A, et al. Dietary greenhouse gas emissions of meat-eaters, fish-eaters, vegetarians and vegans in the UK. Clim Change. 2014;125(2):179-92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-014-1169-1 PMid:25834298 PMCid:PMC4372775
Macdiarmid JI. Is a healthy diet an environmentally sustainable diet? Proc Nutr Soc. 2013;72(1):13-20. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665112002893 PMid:23186839
Buttriss J, Riley H. Sustainable diets: Harnessing the nutrition agenda. Food Chem. 2013;140(3):402-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.01.083 PMid:23601382
Story M, Hamm MW, Wallinga D. Food systems and public health: Linkages to achieve healthier diets and healthier communities. J Hunger Environ Nutr. 2009;4(3-4):219-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/19320240903351463 PMid:23144670 PMCid:PMC3489127
De Koning JIJC, Crul MRM, Wever R, Brezet JC. Sustainable consumption in Vietnam: An explorative study among the urban middle class. Int J Consum Stud. 2015;39(6):608-18. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12235
Clonan A, Holdsworth M, Swift J, Wilson P. UK consumers priorities for sustainable food purchases. In: Proceedings of the 84^th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Economics Society; 2010 March 29-31; Edinburgh, Scotland: Agricultural Economics Society. https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.91948
Tilman D, Clark M. Global diets link environmental sustainability and human health. Nature. 2014;515(7528):518-22. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13959 PMid:25383533
Meybeck A, Gitz V. Sustainable diets within sustainable food systems. Proc Nutr Soc. 2017;76(1):1-11. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665116000653 PMid:28195528
Rao M, Afshin A, Singh G, Mozaffarian D. Do healthier foods and diet patterns cost more than less healthy options? A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 2013;3(12):e004277. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004277 PMid:24309174 PMCid:PMC3855594

How to cite this article

Vancouver

Acar Tek N, Karaçil Ermumcu MŞ, Erdoğan Gövez N, Çıtar Dazıroğlu ME. Evaluation of awareness, knowledge, and attitudes level of sustainable nutrition in different age groups: A cross-sectional study. EUR J ENV PUBLIC HLT. 2023;7(4):em0142. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/13390

APA

Acar Tek, N., Karaçil Ermumcu, M. Ş., Erdoğan Gövez, N., & Çıtar Dazıroğlu, M. E. (2023). Evaluation of awareness, knowledge, and attitudes level of sustainable nutrition in different age groups: A cross-sectional study. European Journal of Environment and Public Health, 7(4), em0142. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/13390

AMA

Acar Tek N, Karaçil Ermumcu MŞ, Erdoğan Gövez N, Çıtar Dazıroğlu ME. Evaluation of awareness, knowledge, and attitudes level of sustainable nutrition in different age groups: A cross-sectional study. EUR J ENV PUBLIC HLT. 2023;7(4), em0142. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/13390

Chicago

Acar Tek, Nilüfer, Merve Şeyda Karaçil Ermumcu, Nazlıcan Erdoğan Gövez, and Merve Esra Çıtar Dazıroğlu. "Evaluation of awareness, knowledge, and attitudes level of sustainable nutrition in different age groups: A cross-sectional study". European Journal of Environment and Public Health 2023 7 no. 4 (2023): em0142. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/13390

Harvard

Acar Tek, N., Karaçil Ermumcu, M. Ş., Erdoğan Gövez, N., and Çıtar Dazıroğlu, M. E. (2023). Evaluation of awareness, knowledge, and attitudes level of sustainable nutrition in different age groups: A cross-sectional study. European Journal of Environment and Public Health, 7(4), em0142. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/13390

MLA

Acar Tek, Nilüfer et al. "Evaluation of awareness, knowledge, and attitudes level of sustainable nutrition in different age groups: A cross-sectional study". European Journal of Environment and Public Health, vol. 7, no. 4, 2023, em0142. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejeph/13390