THE ROLE OF FRESH AND CANNED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN BODY WEIGHT REGULATION

Purpose: Healthy eating plays a key role in maintaining a healthy body weight. Fruits and vegetables are essential components of the diet due to their nutritional benefits. Research on the impact of the frequency of consumption of fresh and canned fruits and vegetables on body mass index (BMI) and body weight is limited. This study aims to investigate this relationship. Methods: The study included 533 participants aged 18 to 65 with varying frequencies of fruit and vegetable consumption. Data were analyzed using SPSS, with BMI classified into three categories: underweight, normal weight, and overweight. Results: Among those who rarely consume fresh fruits, 30.5% are underweight, 45.8% have normal weight, and 23.7% are overweight. For those consuming fresh fruits once a week, 42.9% are underweight, 35.7% have normal weight, and 21.4% are overweight. For those consuming fresh fruits 2-3 times a week, 45.9% are underweight, 37.7% have normal weight, and 16.4% are overweight. For daily consumption, 57.7% are underweight, 27.3% have normal weight, and 15% are overweight. Among those consuming fresh vegetables once a week, 33.3% have normal weight, and 18.5% are overweight. For those consuming fresh vegetables 2-3 times a week, 33.7% have a normal weight, and 15.4% are overweight. For daily consumption, 35.7% have normal weight, and 15% are overweight. Conclusion: Daily consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is associated with healthier body weight. Canned fruits should be consumed rarely, and canned vegetables 2-3 times a week.