Assessment of Weight Management Nutrition Knowledge Level Among Individuals Applying to a Diet Center

Objective: This study aimed to assess the level of nutritional weight management knowledge among individuals applying to a private nutrition and diet counseling center for weight management. Materials and Methods: Data were collected between January and May 2025 using voluntary face-to-face survey interviews. The sample size was determined to be at least 176 individuals based on a G*Power analysis for two independent groups with a 95% confidence level and a 5% margin of error; a total of 180 individuals were included in the study, comprising 90 new and 90 established patients. The socio-demographic characteristics of the participants were given in the first part, and the second part included the Weight Management Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (WMNKQ). Results: The mean BMI was 29.08±11.59 kg/m², and the WMNKQ score was 25.31±5.21. The results revealed a significant difference in clinical variables, including diet follow-up duration (p=0.001), presence of diagnosed disease (p=0.001), and disease-specific diet application status (p=0.025). Individuals with postgraduate education had statistically significantly higher WMNKQ scores than those with a high school or associate degree (p < 0.05). Positive and statistically significant relationships were found between WMNKQ scores and BMI (r=0.232, p=0.002) and duration of diet continuation (r=0.268, p=0.011). Conclusion: The level of knowledge regarding weight management is closely related to individuals' clinical characteristics, the duration of nutritional follow-up, and education level. These findings highlight the need to examine different clinical groups and educational interventions and may contribute to the development of more effective weight management programs.