Keywords
Mediterranean diet adherence; cardiovascular disease prevention; Turkish public health nutrition; socioeconomic determinants of diet; food access and health disparities; health literacy in Türkiye
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally, including in Türkiye. One key factor influencing CVD prevention is dietary patterns, which directly impacts cardiovascular health. Türkiye traditionally follows the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), which is acclaimed for its cardiovascular benefits. Despite this, Türkiye continues to experience high rates of CVD, with projections indicating that CVD mortality will double for both men and women by 2030. It is crucial to address diet-related factors, including potential nutritional deficiencies, to reduce cardiovascular health risks.
This research aims to analyze the Turkish community's adherence to the Mediterranean diet to understand why CVD prevalence remains high despite following a well-established, beneficial dietary pattern. A systematic review was conducted using EBSCO and the UCF Library as primary databases, resulting in the inclusion of twenty-three articles based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. These studies highlighted moderate adherence to the MedDiet and identified several factors affecting adherence, including nutritional imbalances, varying eating habits across age groups, meal frequency, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, social influences, food prices, nutritional literacy, government initiatives, and location were found to play significant roles in shaping dietary behaviors.
Future research could explore the deep-rooted factors behind adherence or non-adherence to the Mediterranean diet and apply to a broader population. Additionally, comparing dietary habits in Turkish migrants could indicate how migration, cultural adaptation, and access to diverse food environments influence dietary patterns and their potential link to CVD prevalence.
Thesis Completion Year
2025
Thesis Completion Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair
Ramirez, Bernardo
College
College of Community Innovation and Education
Department
School of Global Health Management and Informatics
Thesis Discipline
Global Health
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus Access
None
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
Özoğlu, Pelin L., "A Systematic Review Of Dietary Trends, Influencing Factors, And Their Impacts On Cardiovascular Health In Turkish Populations" (2025). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 345.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/345
Included in
Cardiovascular Diseases Commons, Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Commons, Medical Education Commons, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Commons, Public Health Education and Promotion Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons
Rights Statement
