Browsing by Author "Gunal, Ahmet Murat"

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Citation Count: 0
Food insecurity indicators of 14 OECD countries in a health economics aspect: A comparative analysis
(Frontiers Media Sa, 2023) Günal, Ahmet Murat; Gunal, Ahmet Murat; Beslenme ve Diyetetik / Nutrition and Dietetics
IntroductionFood insecurity is a critical issue that refers to a lack of access to adequate food to support a healthy and active lifestyle. This problem has wide-reaching effects and can negatively impact health, education, and overall well-being. Addressing food insecurity requires a multifaceted approach that involves the efforts of governments, organizations, and individuals to ensure access to a balanced and nutritious diet for all. MethodsThe aim of this study is to shed light on macro-level models and evaluate food insecurity risk in international comparisons. We considered six criteria to evaluate food insecurity risk in terms of health expenditure, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, and GDP growth rate among 14 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. We developed a modeling approach in three stages to compare food insecurity risk and discussed the reasons for the rankings of the countries based on the model results. ResultsAccording to our findings, the United States has the lowest food insecurity risk, while Colombia has the highest. The results suggest that economic factors, such as GDP per capita and GDP growth rate, play a significant role in food insecurity risk. The study highlights the importance of addressing economic disparities and promoting economic growth to reduce food insecurity. DiscussionThis study provides insights into the relationship between food insecurity and economic factors, indicating that addressing economic disparities and promoting economic growth can reduce food insecurity. Future research using similar models to link economic outcomes with important health components such as nutrition and physical activity could provide a foundation for policy development.
Citation Count: 3
Nutrition Knowledge Scale (NKS): Development, Factor Structure, and Validation for Healthy Adults
(Mattioli 1885, 2021) Yilmaz, Hande Ongun; Günal, Ahmet Murat; Toguc, Hakan; Cobanoglu, Zeynep; Sayar, Canel Onel; Erkul, Cahit; Gunal, Ahmet Murat; Beslenme ve Diyetetik / Nutrition and Dietetics
Objective: Valid and reliable scales are required to determine and evaluate nutritional knowledge. This research aims to develop the nutrition knowledge scale for adults and to examine the factor structure, validity, and reliability. Methods: Initially, the Nutrition Knowledge Scale (NKS) was constituted, paying attention to content and construct validity. The content validity index (CVI) was found as 0.884. Five hundred eighty-five (371 females, 214 males) volunteers consisting of healthy adults completed the general information form and NKS. For test-retest reliability, 164 (28.03%) participants completed the NKS again within four weeks following the first conduct. Results: As a result of Explanatory Factor Analysis (EFA), NKS items were collected under one factor. According to the results of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), all fit indices were found at an acceptable level. Cronbach's alpha value calculated for reliability analysis of NKS is 0.851. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) calculated for test-retest reliability is 0.863. Conclusion: This research indicates that NCS is an acceptable, valid, and reliable scale that covers all aspects of nutritional knowledge and can be used in future research for determining and evaluating the nutritional knowledge level of adults.
Citation Count: 1
Sleep, activity, and diet in harmony: unveiling the relationships of chronotype, sleep quality, physical activity, and dietary intake
(Frontiers Media Sa, 2023) Günal, Ahmet Murat; Beslenme ve Diyetetik / Nutrition and Dietetics
Introduction This cross-sectional study aims to explore the intricate relationships among chronotype, sleep quality, physical activity, and dietary intake in a diverse cohort of 3,072 (50.2% female) participants residing in Istanbul, Turkiye.Methods This study utilized established measurement tools, including the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) to assess chronotype, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to evaluate sleep quality, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) to measure physical activity, and a 24-h dietary recall method to assess dietary intake.Results The findings of this study revealed compelling associations. Firstly, a robust association was observed between sleep quality and chronotype (OR: 2.265; 95% CI: 1.954-2.626; p < 0.001) as well as physical activity (OR: 0.836; 95% CI: 0.750-0.932; p = 0.002). Specifically, evening chronotypes are more likely to have poor sleep quality, while highly active individuals tend to report lower sleep quality. Transitioning from inactivity to high activity was associated with a 16.4% increase in the odds of transitioning from normal to poor sleep, while a shift from an evening to a morning chronotype was linked to a substantial 126.5-fold increase in the odds of moving from poor to normal sleep. Additionally, morning chronotypes also display distinctive dietary patterns, characterized by higher energy, protein, and fat intake, and reduced carbohydrate intake. Poor sleep quality is associated with increased energy and macronutrient consumption.Discussion These findings underscore the intricate relationships of chrononutrition within the context of sleep quality, physical activity, and dietary choices. The study underscores the significance of personalized interventions to effectively address specific health behaviors, highlighting the complexity of chrononutrition's role in promoting overall health and wellbeing.