Association of Meal and Physical Activity Habits with Body Composition and Obesity Indicators in Gaziantep Provincial Health Directorate Personnel: A Cross-Sectional Study
Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the associations between meal habits, regular physical activity, obesity, and detailed body composition indicators among personnel working at the Gaziantep Provincial Health Directorate headquarters.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2025 and January 2026. A total of 200 personnel aged 18 years and older with complete data were included in the final analysis. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews covering sociodemographic characteristics, meal habits, and physical activity status. Body composition was assessed using two complementary approaches: anthropometric measurements (height, BMI, waist, hip, and neck circumference) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), the latter providing fat, muscle, lean mass, body water, and visceral fat estimates.
Results: The mean age of participants was 37.71±7.96 years, and the mean BMI was 26.05±4.09 kg/m². In total, 57.5% of participants were overweight or obese. Individuals who skipped at least one main meal had significantly higher BMI, body fat percentage, and visceral fat scores, as well as significantly lower muscle and body water percentages (P < 0.05). Snack consumption was associated with lower muscle and lean mass percentages, whereas regular physical activity was associated with a more favorable body composition profile (P < 0.05). Several correlations between meal-frequency variables and body composition parameters were statistically significant but weak in magnitude.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that meal skipping and insufficient physical activity are associated with an unfavorable body composition profile, whereas regular physical activity is associated with a more favorable body composition. The findings underscore the importance of workplace-based interventions promoting healthy dietary habits and physical activity among public sector employees.
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Article Information
- Article Type Research Article
- Submitted May 21, 2026
- Accepted June 28, 2026
- Published July 18, 2026
- Issue 2026: Online First
- Section Research Article
- Categories
The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to institutional data protection policies but are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
