PD174 - DIETARY FIBER-RELATED KNOWLEDGE IN TURKISH WOMEN: ASSOCIATIONS WITH BMI AND DIETARY FIBER INTAKE

PD174

DIETARY FIBER-RELATED KNOWLEDGE IN TURKISH WOMEN: ASSOCIATIONS WITH BMI AND DIETARY FIBER INTAKE

E. Özdemir¹, N. İnanç¹, G. Kendirli^1,*

¹Nutrition and Dietetics, Nuh Naci Yazgan University, Kayseri, Türkiye

Rationale: Dietary fiber plays an important role in health; however, how knowledge translates into eating habits remains unclear. Given women’s role in household nutrition and body mass index (BMI) as a key health indicator, this study aimed to examine the relationship between dietary fiber knowledge, BMI, and fiber intake in women.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 361 women in Sivas, Türkiye. Data were collected using a questionnaire that included demographics and anthropometrics, a 24-hour dietary recall, and the Dietary Fiber-Related Knowledge Questionnaire, which consists of two sections: Section A assesses knowledge of the relationship between dietary fiber and health, and Section B assesses knowledge of dietary fiber content in foods.

Results: Overall, 45.4% had low dietary fiber knowledge, and 95% had fiber intakes below recommendations. Daily fiber intake and Section B scores were significantly higher in housewives than in students. According to BMI, underweight and normal-weight women had significantly lower dietary fiber intake than overweight women, while knowledge scores did not differ across BMI categories. A very weak positive correlation was observed between Section A scores and daily intakes of protein, fat, pyridoxine, folate, potassium, and phosphorus (r=0.10–0.11). Similarly, Section B scores showed a very weak positive correlation with age and daily intakes of protein, cholesterol, vitamin A, thiamine, folate, and phosphorus (r=0.10–0.16; p<0.005).  

Conclusion: Dietary fiber knowledge was weakly associated with selected nutrient intakes but not with BMI or fiber intake, suggesting that knowledge alone may be insufficient to influence dietary behavior. Higher Section B scores in housewives than in students suggest that experience or responsibility may improve knowledge of fiber content in foods but not its health effects, highlighting the need for targeted education.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared