Researchers studied 1,712 adults in Turkey to see if knowing more about nutrition helps people eat better and follow a Mediterranean diet (which focuses on vegetables, fish, and olive oil). They found that people with stronger nutrition knowledge were significantly more likely to eat sustainably, choose healthier foods, and stick to the Mediterranean diet. About 28% of participants had high nutrition knowledge. The study suggests that teaching people about food and nutrition isn’t just good for their personal health—it also helps protect our environment by encouraging more sustainable eating choices.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Does understanding nutrition help people eat healthier foods and follow the Mediterranean diet, which is known to be good for both health and the environment?
  • Who participated: 1,712 adults aged 18-64 years living in Turkey who completed an online survey. The average age was about 31 years old.
  • Key finding: People with higher nutrition knowledge were significantly more likely to eat sustainably, choose quality foods, reduce food waste, and follow the Mediterranean diet. Only about 28% of participants had high nutrition knowledge, suggesting most people could benefit from learning more.
  • What it means for you: If you learn more about nutrition and healthy eating, you’re more likely to actually make better food choices and stick with them. This could improve your health and help the environment. However, this study shows a connection, not that learning causes better eating—other factors matter too.

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. Participants completed online surveys that measured three things: their general nutrition knowledge, their sustainable and healthy eating behaviors, and how closely they followed the Mediterranean diet. The researchers then used statistical analysis to see if people with more nutrition knowledge also had better eating habits. They controlled for factors like age, gender, and education to make sure nutrition knowledge itself was making the difference, not these other factors.

Understanding the connection between what people know about food and what they actually eat is important for designing better nutrition education programs. If knowledge truly drives behavior change, then investing in teaching people about nutrition could improve public health and environmental sustainability. This approach helps explain why some nutrition programs work better than others.

This study has several strengths: it included a large number of participants (1,712), used validated measurement tools that have been tested in previous research, and controlled for important background factors. However, because it’s cross-sectional, we can’t prove that nutrition knowledge causes better eating—only that they go together. People who already eat well might naturally learn more about nutrition, rather than learning causing them to eat better. The study was conducted in Turkey, so results may not apply equally to all countries and cultures.

What the Results Show

The study found strong connections between nutrition knowledge and healthy eating behaviors. People with higher nutrition knowledge were more likely to pay attention to quality labels on food, choose foods that are better for the environment, reduce food waste, and follow the Mediterranean diet. These connections remained strong even after accounting for age, gender, education, and income. The researchers found that nutrition knowledge was one of the strongest predictors of whether someone would stick to the Mediterranean diet. Essentially, the more people understood about nutrition, the more likely they were to make choices that were good for both their health and the planet.

The study also revealed that only about 28% of the 1,712 adults surveyed had high levels of nutrition knowledge. This suggests that most people could benefit from learning more about food and nutrition. The research showed that nutrition knowledge affected multiple aspects of eating behavior—not just one or two—including food quality choices, environmental awareness, and waste reduction. This indicates that nutrition education could have broad benefits across many healthy eating habits.

This research supports what other studies have suggested: that knowing more about nutrition helps people make better food choices. The Mediterranean diet has been extensively studied and is widely recognized as one of the healthiest eating patterns. This study adds to that evidence by showing that nutrition knowledge is a key factor in whether people actually follow this healthy diet. The connection between nutrition knowledge and sustainable eating is relatively newer research, suggesting that environmental awareness and nutrition education should go hand-in-hand.

The biggest limitation is that this study shows correlation (things going together), not causation (one thing causing another). We can’t be certain that learning about nutrition causes people to eat better—it’s possible that people who already eat well are more motivated to learn about nutrition. The study only included people in Turkey who had internet access and completed an online survey, so results may not apply to all populations worldwide. Additionally, people may have answered questions about their eating habits in ways that make themselves look better (social desirability bias). The study measured knowledge and behavior at only one point in time, so we don’t know if these patterns stay the same over months or years.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, nutrition education programs appear to be a valuable tool for improving eating habits and promoting the Mediterranean diet (moderate confidence level). If you want to eat healthier and more sustainably, learning about nutrition through classes, apps, books, or reliable websites may help you make better choices. The Mediterranean diet—which emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, and olive oil—is supported by extensive research as a healthy choice. However, knowledge alone isn’t enough; you’ll also need practical support, access to healthy foods, and motivation to change habits.

Anyone interested in improving their health should care about this research. It’s particularly relevant for people trying to follow the Mediterranean diet, those concerned about environmental sustainability, and educators designing nutrition programs. Healthcare providers may find this useful when counseling patients about diet. However, this research is less directly applicable to people with specific medical conditions requiring specialized diets, though nutrition knowledge could still help them. The findings are most relevant to adults in developed countries with access to diverse food options.

Realistic expectations for seeing benefits from improved nutrition knowledge vary. You might start making different food choices within days or weeks of learning new information. However, seeing health benefits like weight loss, improved energy, or better blood work typically takes 4-12 weeks of consistent healthy eating. Long-term benefits like reduced disease risk develop over months and years. Building sustainable habits usually takes 2-3 months of consistent practice.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your nutrition knowledge growth and eating behavior changes together. Measure this weekly by: (1) noting what new nutrition facts you learned, (2) counting how many meals included Mediterranean diet components (vegetables, whole grains, fish, olive oil), and (3) recording instances where you checked food labels or chose sustainable options. This creates a concrete record of how learning translates to action.
  • Use the app to create a simple nutrition learning plan paired with meal planning. Each week, learn one new nutrition concept (like ‘what whole grains are’ or ‘why olive oil is healthy’), then plan 2-3 meals that apply that knowledge. Log your meals to see the connection between what you learn and what you eat. This bridges the gap between knowledge and action.
  • Set up a monthly review in your app comparing your nutrition knowledge scores with your eating behavior scores. Track whether your Mediterranean diet adherence improves as your knowledge increases. Monitor specific behaviors like label-checking frequency, vegetable servings per day, and sustainable food choices. This long-term tracking helps you see patterns and stay motivated as knowledge translates into healthier habits.

This research shows a connection between nutrition knowledge and healthy eating, but it does not prove that learning about nutrition will automatically change your eating habits. Individual results vary based on many factors including access to healthy foods, personal motivation, cultural preferences, and medical conditions. Before making significant dietary changes, especially if you have existing health conditions, take medications, or have food allergies, consult with your doctor or a registered dietitian. This article is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical or nutritional advice.