Researchers in Turkey studied 509 adults to understand how body weight, exercise habits, and caffeine use are connected. They found that people who exercise more tend to have healthier attitudes about food, while those who drink too much caffeine may have different nutrition beliefs. The study also showed that factors like age, gender, and education level play a role in how people view healthy eating and use caffeine. These findings suggest that when doctors and health experts create programs to help people eat better or reduce caffeine, they should consider a person’s exercise level and other personal characteristics.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether people’s weight, how much they exercise, and their personal background (age, gender, education) affect how much caffeine they use and what they think about healthy eating
  • Who participated: 509 adults living in Turkey who answered questions about their caffeine use, nutrition beliefs, exercise habits, and provided their height and weight information
  • Key finding: People who exercise regularly (5+ days per week) showed better attitudes toward healthy eating compared to those who don’t exercise. Additionally, caffeine use appeared to be connected to how people view nutrition, with some weak but measurable relationships found between heavy caffeine use and certain nutrition attitudes
  • What it means for you: If you’re trying to improve your eating habits or reduce caffeine intake, your exercise routine and personal factors matter. Starting or increasing exercise may help you develop healthier food attitudes. However, this study shows connections between these factors—it doesn’t prove that one causes the other, so individual results may vary

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional study, which means researchers collected information from people at one point in time rather than following them over months or years. All 509 participants completed three questionnaires: one about caffeine use patterns, one about their nutrition attitudes, and one about their background and daily habits. Participants reported their height and weight, which researchers used to calculate BMI (a measure of body size). Exercise was measured by asking people how many days per week they were physically active, ranging from sedentary (no activity) to highly active (5+ days weekly).

The researchers used statistical tests to look for patterns and differences between groups. They compared nutrition attitudes between men and women, between people with different marital statuses, and between people with different exercise levels. They also looked for mathematical relationships between variables—for example, whether people who exercise more tend to have different caffeine use patterns.

Understanding how lifestyle factors like exercise and body weight relate to caffeine use and nutrition attitudes helps health professionals create better programs. If we know that certain groups of people have different patterns, we can tailor advice and interventions to be more effective. This approach recognizes that people are different and may need different strategies for improving their health.

This study provides useful information about patterns in a real-world population, but readers should understand its limitations. The study was conducted in Turkey, so results may not apply equally to other countries with different cultures and food systems. All information was self-reported, meaning people estimated their own exercise and reported their own height and weight, which can be less accurate than measured data. The study shows relationships between factors but cannot prove that one thing causes another—for example, we can’t say that exercise causes better nutrition attitudes, only that they tend to occur together.

What the Results Show

The study found that gender and marital status significantly affected how people viewed healthy nutrition. Men and women had different nutrition attitudes, as did people with different marital statuses. Physical activity level showed a clear pattern: people who exercised more frequently had more positive attitudes toward healthy eating compared to those who were sedentary or exercised rarely.

Caffeine use disorder (problematic caffeine consumption) showed weak but measurable connections to nutrition attitudes. People with higher caffeine use disorder scores tended to have different views about nutrition, including lower scores on positive nutrition attitudes and higher scores on malnutrition-related concerns. These relationships were modest in strength, meaning other factors also play important roles.

Body weight (BMI) also appeared to relate to these patterns, though the specific relationships varied. The findings suggest that lifestyle factors—particularly exercise—and personal characteristics work together to influence both caffeine use and nutrition beliefs.

Age and education level also showed connections to nutrition attitudes, though the abstract doesn’t specify the exact patterns. The study suggests that younger or older adults, and people with different education levels, may have different views about healthy eating. These demographic factors should be considered when developing health programs, as a one-size-fits-all approach may not work for everyone.

This research adds to existing knowledge by examining caffeine use disorder alongside nutrition attitudes and lifestyle factors. Previous studies have looked at caffeine use and exercise separately, but this study brings these factors together. The finding that exercise relates to better nutrition attitudes aligns with other research showing that physical activity often goes hand-in-hand with overall healthier lifestyle choices. The connection between caffeine use and nutrition attitudes is a newer area of study that deserves more research.

The study has several important limitations. First, all data came from self-reports—people estimated their own exercise and reported their own weight and height, which can be inaccurate. Second, this was a snapshot in time, not a long-term study, so we can’t see how these factors change over months or years. Third, the study was conducted in Turkey, so results may not apply to people in other countries with different food cultures and lifestyles. Fourth, the study shows relationships between factors but cannot prove that one causes another. Finally, the sample included 509 people, which is reasonable but not huge, so some findings might not hold true in larger populations.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, health experts should consider a person’s exercise level and personal background when giving advice about caffeine use and nutrition. For individuals: if you want to improve your eating habits, increasing your physical activity may help shift your attitudes toward healthier choices (moderate confidence—this is a pattern observed in the study, but individual results vary). Reducing excessive caffeine use may also help you develop more balanced nutrition attitudes (low to moderate confidence—the connection is present but not extremely strong). These recommendations work best as part of a comprehensive approach that considers your age, gender, education, and other personal factors.

This research is most relevant for health professionals, nutritionists, and public health planners developing programs about diet and caffeine use. Adults who struggle with caffeine consumption or want to improve their eating habits should find this helpful context. People who exercise regularly may recognize themselves in these findings. However, this study doesn’t apply to children or teenagers, and results may differ for people outside Turkey. If you have specific health concerns about caffeine or nutrition, consult with a healthcare provider rather than relying solely on this research.

If you start exercising more, research suggests that positive changes in nutrition attitudes may develop over weeks to months, though this study doesn’t specify exact timelines. Reducing caffeine use might show benefits in energy levels and sleep within days to weeks, but changes in overall nutrition attitudes typically take longer—usually several weeks to months of consistent effort. Be patient with yourself; building new habits takes time.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track three metrics weekly: (1) days per week of physical activity, (2) daily caffeine intake in milligrams or number of caffeinated drinks, and (3) a simple nutrition attitude score (rate your confidence in making healthy food choices on a scale of 1-10). Monitor whether weeks with more exercise correlate with higher nutrition confidence scores.
  • Set a specific, achievable goal such as ‘increase exercise to 3-4 days per week’ or ‘reduce caffeine to under 200mg daily’ and use the app to log progress. Create a connection between these behaviors by noting in your app when you exercise and how your food choices feel that day. This helps you see the relationship between activity and nutrition attitudes in your own life.
  • Review your tracked data monthly to identify patterns. Look for correlations between your exercise frequency and your nutrition confidence ratings. If you notice that weeks with more activity show better nutrition attitudes, use this as motivation to maintain exercise habits. If caffeine reduction coincides with improved nutrition choices, celebrate that progress. Adjust your goals based on what you observe in your personal data.

This research describes patterns found in a study of 509 Turkish adults and cannot be applied as medical advice for individual cases. The study shows relationships between factors but does not prove that one causes another. If you have concerns about caffeine use, nutrition, or exercise, please consult with a qualified healthcare provider, registered dietitian, or fitness professional who can assess your individual situation. This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical or nutritional guidance. People with caffeine sensitivity, anxiety disorders, heart conditions, or those taking certain medications should speak with their doctor before making changes to caffeine consumption.