The relationship between exercise health beliefs, sustainable healthy eating behaviors, and adherence to the mediterranean diet in female university students

The aim of this study was to evaluate the health beliefs towards exercise, sustainable healthy eating behaviors and adherence with the Mediterranean Diet (MDA) among female university students. The participants were female university students (N = 503). The study evaluated the general characteristics of individuals using the Health Beliefs Model Scale for Exercise (HBSE), Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors Scale (SHEBS), and assessed their adherence to the MDA using the Mediterranean Dietary Adherence Scale (MEDAS). 67.7% of students’ had normal body weight according to BMI classification. 51.7% of the students showed adequate adherence to the MDA. As MDA increased among students, their health beliefs about exercise also increased (p < 0.05). The MEDAS total score exhibited a positive correlation with SHEBS and HBSE. MEDAS and HBSE total score were determined as factors affecting sustainable healthy eating behavior. This study supported the relationship between female university students health beliefs about exercise, sustainable healthy eating behaviors, and MDA.