Kadın Üniversite Öğrencileri Arasında Vejetaryenliğin Yaygınlığı, Vejetaryenler ve Omnivorların Beslenme Alışkanlıklarının Karşılaştırılması

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmada kadın üniversite öğrencilerinde vejetaryenlik prevalansını belirlemek ve vejetaryenlerle omnivorların beslenme alışkanlıkları arasındaki farkları ortaya koymak amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu kesitsel çalışmanın verileri sosyodemografik özellikler, vejetaryenlikle ilgili sorular ve besin tüketim sıklığını içeren anket kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Bulgular: Çalışmaya 18-24 yaşlarında 2127 kadın üniversite öğrencisi dahil olmuştur. Katılımcıların %5'inin vejetaryen olduğu saptanmıştır. Bunlardan %2,8'i bilinçli şekilde vejetaryenliği seçmişlerdir. Vejetaryenlerden %56'sı vejetaryen diyet uyguladığının farkındadır. Vejetaryenlerin çoğunluğu (%72,9) semi-vejetaryendir. Besin takviyelerinden B12 vitamini, C vitamini ve protein tozunun kullanımı vejetaryen grupta omnivor gruba göre önemli düzeyde daha yüksektir (p<0,05). Haftada 5-6 kez veya daha sık çiğ ve pişmiş yeşil yapraklı sebzeler, diğer sebzeler, şeker ve taze meyve suyu tüketen vejetaryenlerin oranı omnivorlardan daha yüksek bulunmuştur (p<0,05). Simit ve poğaça gibi hamur işleri, patates, patates kızartması, mısır/patates cipsi ve hazır meyve suyu gibi içecekleri gün aşırı veya daha sık tüketenlerin oranları da vejetaryen grupta omnivor grubundan daha yüksektir (p<0,05). Sonuç: Bu araştırma sonuçları vejetaryenlerin yaklaşık yarısının diyet modelinin farkında olmadığını göstermiştir. Ayrıca sağlıklı beslenme alışkanlıklarının olmadığı saptanmıştır. Bu nedenle özellikle vejetaryenliğin yaygın olduğu genç kadınlar için sağlıklı vejetaryen diyetler konusunda ulusal rehberler aracılığıyla toplumsal farkındalık yaratılmalıdır.

Keywords

• Diyet
• vejetaryen
• kadın
• öğrenciler
• üniversiteler

Prevalence of Vegetarianism among Female University Students, Comparison of Dietary Habits of Vegetarians and Omnivores

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of vegetarians and to reveal differences between the nutritional habits of female vegetarian and omnivore university students. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study data were collected through surveys that included sociodemographic characteristics, questions regarding vegetarianism, and a food frequency questionnaire. Results: The participants consisted of 2127 female university students between the ages of 18-24. Of these participants, 5% followed a vegetarian diet, and of these, 2.8% were vegetarian by choice. Among the vegetarians, 56% were aware of following a vegetarian diet. The majority of the vegetarians (72.9%) consisted of semi-vegetarians. Of the nutritional supplements, the uses of vitamin B12, vitamin C, and protein powder was significantly higher in the vegetarian group than in the omnivore group (p<0.05). The rate of vegetarians who consumed raw and cooked green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, sugar, and fresh fruit juice 5–6 times a week or more often was higher than that of the omnivores (p<0.05). Also, the rates of the consumption of pastries such as bagels and pastries, potatoes, French fries, corn/potato chips, and beverages like ready-made fruit juices every other day or more often were higher in the vegetarian group than in the omnivore group (p<0.05). Conclusion: This research results showed that approximately half of the vegetarians were unaware of their dietary model. Moreover, it was determined that there were no healthy dietary patterns. Therefore, community awareness should be raised through national guides regarding healthy vegetarian diets, especially for young women among whom vegetarianism is common.

Keywords

• Diet
• vegetarian
• female
• students
• universities

References

1. Sakkas H, Bozidis P, Touzios C, Kolios D, Athanasiou G, Athanasopoulou E, et al. Nutritional Status and the Influence of the Vegan Diet on the Gut Microbiota and Human Health. Medicina (Kaunas). 2020;56(2):88. DOI: 10.3390/medicina56020088.
2. Al-Ma’aitah A, Tayyem RF. Vegetarian Diet: Health Implications and Nutrients' Adequacy. Pak J Nutr. 2020;19:468-76. DOI: 10.3923/pjn.2020.468.476.
3. Bellikci Koyu E, Karaağaç Y, Öner BN. The association between food neophobia, bi-dimensional aspects of orthorexia, and anxiety among vegetarians and omnivores. Appetite. 2024;197:107303. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107303.
4. Ruby MB. Vegetarianism. A blossoming field of study. Appetite. 2012;58(1):141-50. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2011.09.019.
5. Schenk P, Rössel J, Scholz M. Motivations and Constraints of Meat Avoidance. Sustainability. 2018; 10(11):3858. DOI: 10.3390/su10113858.
6. Shridhar K, Dhillon PK, Bowen L, Kinra S, Bharathi AV, Prabhakaran D, et al. Nutritional profile of Indian vegetarian diets--the Indian Migration Study (IMS). Nutr J. 2014;13:55. DOI: 10.1186/1475-2891-13-55.
7. Orlich MJ, Chiu THT, Dhillon PK, Key TJ, Fraser GE, Shridhar K, et al. Vegetarian Epidemiology: Review and Discussion of Findings from Geographically Diverse Cohorts. Adv Nutr. 2019;10(Suppl_4):S284-95. DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmy109.
8. Baş M, Karabudak E, Kiziltan G. Vegetarianism and eating disorders: association between eating attitudes and other psychological factors among Turkish adolescents. Appetite. 2005;44(3):309-15.DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2005.02.002.

9. Krizanova J, Guardiola J. Happy but Vegetarian? Understanding the Relationship of Vegetarian Subjective Well-Being from the Nature-Connectedness Perspective of University Students. Appl Res Qual Life. 2021;16:2221-49. DOI: 10.1007/s11482-020-09872-9.
10. Zhang M, Zhang Y, Hallman WK, Williams JD. Eating green for health or social benefits? Interactions of attitudes with self-identity on the consumption of vegetarian meals among U.S. and Chinese college students. Appetite. 2021;167:105652. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105652.
11. Olfert MD, Barr ML, Mathews AE, Horacek TM, Riggsbee K, Zhou W, et al. Life of a vegetarian college student: Health, lifestyle, and environmental perceptions. J Am Coll Health. 2022;70(1):232-9. DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1740231.
12. Zickgraf HF, Hazzard VM, O'Connor SM, Simone M, Williams-Kerver GA, Anderson LM, et al. Examining vegetarianism, weight motivations, and eating disorder psychopathology among college students. Int J Eat Disord. 2020;53(9):1506-14. DOI: 10.1002/eat.23335.
13. DeMay TD, Nnakwe NE, Yu U, Schumacher JR. Examination of Nutrition Knowledge, Attitude, and Dietary Behaviors of College Student Vegetarians, Semi-Vegetarians, and Non-Vegestarians. Sci J Food Sc Nutr. 2019;5(1):006-14.
14. Sanne I, Bjørke-Monsen AL. Lack of nutritional knowledge among Norwegian medical students concerning vegetarian diets. J Public Health (Berl.). 2022;30:495-501. DOI: 10.1007/s10389-020-01327-7.
15. Sieke EH, Carlson JL, Lock J, Timko CA, Neumark-Sztainer D, Peebles R. To meat or not to meat: disordered eating and vegetarian status in university students. Eat Weight Disord. 2022;27(2):831-7. DOI: 10.1007/s40519-021-01202-8.
16. Paslakis G, Richardson C, Nöhre M, Brähler E, Holzapfel C, Hilbert A, et al. Prevalence and psychopathology of vegetarians and vegans - Results from a representative survey in Germany. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):6840. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63910-y.
17. Brytek-Matera A. Restrained Eating and Vegan, Vegetarian and Omnivore Dietary Intakes. Nutrients. 2020;12(7):2133. DOI: 10.3390/nu12072133.
18. Modlinska K, Adamczyk D, Maison D, Pisula W. Gender Differences in Attitudes to Vegans/Vegetarians and Their Food Preferences, and Their Implications for Promoting Sustainable Dietary Patterns–A Systematic Review. Sustainability. 2020; 12(16):6292. DOI: 10.3390/su12166292.
19. Rogers R A. Beasts, Burgers, and Hummers: Meat and the Crisis of Masculinity in Contemporary Television Advertisements. Environ Commun. 2008;2(3):281-301. DOI: 10.1080/17524030802390250.
20. Browarnik BL. Attitudes Toward Male Vegetarians: Challenging Gender Norms Through Food Choices. Psychology Honors Papers; 2012. Available from: http://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/psychhp/25
21. Mensink GBM, Barbosa CL, Brettschneider AK. Prevalence of persons following a vegetarian diet in Germany. J Health Monit. 2016;1(2):2-14. DOI: 10.17886/RKI-GBE-2016-039.
22. Özgür M, Kayaçelik D, Kahraman AN, Terzi Topal F. Evaluation of University Students' Eating Awareness, Nutrition Knowledge Levels and Vegan-Vegetarian Nutrition Perception. Curr Perspect Health Sci. 2024;5(1):15-23. DOI: 10.58208/cphs.1379978.
23. vegansociety.com [Internet]. Statistics of Vegan Society [cited 2024 Mar 7]. Available from: https://www.vegansociety.com/news/media/statistics.
24. statista.com [Internet]. Vegan representation in selected countries in Europe in 2018; 2020 [cited 2024 Mar 7]. Available from: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1064081/share-of-people-following-a-vegan-diet-in-europe-by-age-group/
25. Fox N, Ward KJ. You are what you eat? Vegetarianism, health and identity. Soc Sci Med. 2008;66(12):2585-95. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.02.011.
26. Kaytez N, Tunçay GY. Effect of Being Vegan/Vegetarian on Social Relations (University Students Sample). Çankırı Karatekin Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi. 2020;11(1):210-31.
27. Robinson-O'Brien R, Perry CL, Wall MM, Story M, Neumark-Sztainer D. Adolescent and young adult vegetarianism: better dietary intake and weight outcomes but increased risk of disordered eating behaviors. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009;109(4):648-55. DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2008.12.014.
28. Pattar S, Shetty P, Shetty GB. Impact of vegetarian versus non-vegetarian diet on health outcomes in male individuals: A comparative study. Adv Integr Med. 2023;10(1):1-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.aimed.2023.02.001.
29. Blaurock J, Kaiser B, Stelzl T, Weech M, Fallaize R, Franco RZ, et al. Dietary Quality in Vegetarian and Omnivorous Female Students in Germany: A Retrospective Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(4):1888. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18041888.
30. Sun C, Wang Q, Xu C, Wang W, Ma J, Gu L, et al. Reproducibility and Validity of a Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire for Assessing Dietary Intake of Vegetarians and Omnivores in Harbin, China. Nutrients. 2022;14(19):3975. DOI: 10.3390/nu14193975.
31. Skorek P, Glibowski P, Banach K. Nutrition of vegetarians in Poland – a review of research. Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig. 2019;70(3):217-23. DOI: 10.32394/rpzh.2019.0072.
32. Bradbury KE, Tong TYN, Key TJ. Dietary Intake of High-Protein Foods and Other Major Foods in Meat-Eaters, Poultry-Eaters, Fish-Eaters, Vegetarians, and Vegans in UK Biobank. Nutrients. 2017;9(12):1317. DOI: 10.3390/nu9121317.
33. Farmer B, Larson BT, Fulgoni VL 3rd, Rainville AJ, Liepa GU. A vegetarian dietary pattern as a nutrient-dense approach to weight management: an analysis of the national health and nutrition examination survey 1999-2004. J Am Diet Assoc. 2011;111(6):819-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2011.03.012.