Determination of Exercise and Nutrition Behaviors of Middle School Students

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the exercise and nutrition behaviors of middle school students and to determine whether these behaviors differ according to gender, socioeconomic status, regular exercise habits, and participation in nutrition education. The research was conducted using a survey model, one of the quantitative research methods. The population of the study consisted of middle school students studying in the city center of Bitlis. A total of 307 students who met the inclusion criteria and voluntarily agreed to participate were included in the study. Data were collected through a Demographic Information Form prepared by the researchers and the Nutrition-Exercise Behavior Scale developed by Yurt et al. (2016). Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for data analysis. Findings revealed that approximately two-thirds of the participants engaged in regular exercise, although the frequency was generally limited to 1–2 days per week. Students who exercised regularly scored significantly higher on the healthy nutrition-exercise behavior subscale (p<0.05). In addition, students who received nutrition education had significantly higher scores compared to those who did not. Regarding socioeconomic status, students from middle-income families obtained higher scores in meal regularity, whereas no significant differences were observed in terms of gender or anthropometric characteristics. The study concluded that middle school students’ exercise and nutrition behaviors were at a moderate level overall. However, students who exercised regularly and received nutrition education demonstrated more favorable behaviors. These findings highlight the importance of designing school-based programs that integrate both physical activity promotion and nutrition education.