THE INTERACTION BETWEEN EXERCISE ADDICTION AND NUTRITIONAL LEVELS AMONG STUDENTS OF THE FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Year 2024, , 165 - 172, 30.06.2024

Abdurrahim Yıldız , Süleyman Varsak

https://doi.org/10.33457/ijhsrp.1478370

Abstract

Physical exercise is a voluntary, planned, structured, continuous activity aimed at developing and improving body and physical fitness. While nutrition constitutes one dimension of healthy lifestyle behaviors, exercise and physical activity constitute the other dimension. We aimed to examine the relationship between healthy nutrition levels and exercise addiction levels of students studying at the faculty of health sciences. Our study was performed on 133 students studying at Sakarya University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences. The nutrition levels of the participants were assessed with the Nutrition Exercise Behavior Scale (NEBS) and exercise dependence levels were assessed with the Exercise Dependence Scale (EDS). The mean values of age and body mass index of the subjects were 21.83±4.21 and 18.13±3.09, respectively. There were statistically significant and weak correlations between participants' healthy eating habits and exercise dependence level (r=0.386 - p<0.001), Extreme Focus and Emotion Change (r=0.376 - p<0.001), Postponement of Individual-Social Needs and Conflict (r=0.285 - p=0.001), and Tolerance Development and Passion (r=0.295 - p=0.001). There was a positive correlation between exercise addiction levels and various factors, including healthy nutrition levels, extreme focus and emotion change related to exercise, postponement of individual-social needs leading to conflicts, and the development of tolerance and passion for exercise. Interestingly, as students' exercise levels increased, they tended to prioritize maintaining healthy nutrition habits. These findings highlight the intricate interplay between healthy behaviors, exercise habits, emotional responses, social dynamics, and addiction-like tendencies, underscoring the influence of individual differences and environmental factors in shaping exercise-related behaviors among health sciences students.

Keywords

healthy eating, exercise, university student, addiction

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