What the study found
Adults in this Turkish sample with higher adherence to the Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI, a score for how closely a person's diet matches the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet) tended to have better diet quality. The study also reported links between diet quality and environmental footprints.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the Planetary Health Diet may support environmental sustainability alongside higher diet quality while reducing environmental burdens. They frame this as important because data on this diet framework in Türkiye have been limited.
What the researchers tested
The researchers studied 571 adults aged 18 to 64 from a family health center in Ağrı province, Türkiye. They used a single 24-hour dietary recall, calculated PHDI for adherence to the Planetary Health Diet, assessed diet quality with the Healthy Eating Index-2020 (HEI-2020), and estimated carbon footprint and water footprint using the SU-EATABLE LIFE and SHARP-ID databases.
What worked and what didn't
The mean PHDI score was 51.9 and the mean HEI-2020 score was 47.5. Participants in the highest PHDI quintile had higher odds of better diet quality than those in the lowest quintile, and each unit increase in PHDI was associated with a higher HEI score. Carbon footprint was inversely associated with HEI, while water footprint was positively associated with HEI.
What to keep in mind
This was a cross-sectional study, so it describes associations rather than cause and effect. The sample came from one family health center in one province, and the abstract does not describe additional limitations.
Key points
- The study included 571 adults aged 18 to 64 in Ağrı province, Türkiye.
- Higher PHDI adherence was associated with better HEI-2020 diet quality scores.
- The highest PHDI quintile had significantly higher odds of better diet quality than the lowest quintile.
- Carbon footprint was inversely associated with HEI, while water footprint was positively associated with HEI.
- The study used a single 24-hour dietary recall and estimated environmental footprints from published databases.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Higher PHDI adherence linked to better diet quality in Turkish adults
- Authors:
- Mehmetcan Kemaloğlu, Müge Yılmaz, Emine Kemaloğlu
- Institutions:
- Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, Erciyes University, Erciyes University
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-02
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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