Food Insecurity in Relation to Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors and Obesity in Türkiye

Objective: This study aims to determine food insecurity (FI) in relation to sustainable and healthy eating behaviors and obesity in Türkiye. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted between March and May 2023 in Samsun, Türkiye and included 461 people (67.0% women; aged 19 years and over). Data were collected via the online survey method. Using self-reported body weight (kg) and height (m), obesity was determined based on BMI ≥30 kg/m2. The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) and Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors Scale (SHEBS) were administered. Results: The rate of FI was 42.5% and was higher in individuals aged 19–34 years (50.9%) than in individuals aged 35–49 years (36.4%) and 65+ years (34.0%) (p=0.03). FI was associated with a lower risk of obesity in the unadjusted model (p=0.005). After adjusting for gender, age, marital status and education degree, FI was no longer significantly associated with obesity (p=0.07) and was not associated with SHEBS score (p=0.61). Conclusions: This study suggests that FI is not related to sustainable and healthy eating behaviors and obesity in this population. More studies investigating FI at the individual level in larger populations in Türkiye and the environmental and health impacts of FI are needed.