Examining Sustainable Consumption and Sustainable Healthy Eating Behaviors in Individuals Doing Sports with Various Variables: University Students Example

Aim: Sport affects all of the Sustainable Development Goals and plays a facilitating role in achieving each of them. This research aimed to determine the sustainable consumption and sustainable healthy eating behaviors of university students attending gyms. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 272 university students [female:61 (22.4%), male:211 (77.6%)] attending gyms. The survey prepared by the researchers was applied using the face-to-face interview technique. All anthropometric measurements were taken by researchers. The survey consists of general characteristics, anthropometric data, eating habits, the Sustainable and Healthy Eating (SHE) Behaviors Scale, and the Sustainable Consumption Behaviors Scale. Results: The average age of the individuals in this study is 22.44±3.36 years and 49.6% go to the gym 3-4 times a week, and 40.1% go to the gym 5-6 times a week. The scores that women and men receive from the SHE Behaviors Scale and Sustainable Consumption Behavior Scale sub-dimensions are similar. It was determined that as the time individuals spent in the gym increased, their scores from the Environmental Awareness and Animal Welfare sub-dimensions increased (p < 0.05). It was determined that the scores of the Quality Labels sub-dimension, which questions the preference of regional-organic products, of individuals who go to the gym every day are higher than those of individuals who go to the gym 3-4 times a week (p < 0.05). It was determined that the scores of individuals who exercised for 61-120 minutes at the gym on the Meat Reduction sub-dimension were higher than those who exercised for less than half an hour. A moderate positive relationship was found between Meat Reduction and the scores obtained from the Environmental Awareness (r:0.375, p < 0.001) and Savings (r:0.338, p < 0.001) sub-dimensions. Conclusion: The increase in the frequency of going to the gym and the time they spend in the gym among university students attending gyms has positive effects on sustainable consumption behaviors and sustainable healthy eating behaviors.