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Introduction
Young adults in the 18–25 age group are one of the risky groups in terms of having nutritional problems. Childhood and adolescence periods have special importance, as it is the period in which a healthy lifestyle and nutritional habits are acquired (Ayhan et al., 2012; Moy et al., 2009; Pirouznia, 2001). In this period, adoption of an inactive lifestyle away from physical activity and having wrong eating habits increase the risk of developing chronic diseases such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in the adulthood period (Poti et al., 2014). Therefore, eating habits acquired in childhood should also be protected in adulthood. However, as young adults who have reached university age have to leave home due to their university education, they become more vulnerable to external influences and begin to lose the good eating habits they have gained at home (Ayhan et al., 2012; Moy et al., 2009; Brown et al., 2000). Fast food consumption has become widespread in the last quarter-century, especially among university students and young people. Fast food is a common term for a variety of “out-of-home” foods. Western-style fast food, in particular, tends to be less healthy, as it is richer in energy (fat and sugar) and poorer in nutrients and dietary fiber than homemade foods. This can lead to “passive overconsumption” by creating an appetite problem (Whitton et al., 2014; Genena and Salama, 2017; Janssen et al., 2018). Such consumption style may trigger some chronic diseases. However, the emergence of many specific health problems such as vitamin A deficiency, iron deficiency anemia and high body weight can be prevented in healthy-eating young people (Janssen et al., 2018; Deger et al., 2021; Alsunni and Badar, 2015; Onurlubaș et al., 2015). One of the unhealthy eating behaviors between university students and young adults is skipping meals (Ganasegeran et al., 2012; Onurlubaș et al., 2015; Pendergast et al., 2016). Breakfast is one of the skipped meals (Moy et al., 2009; Osako et al., 2005; Song et al., 2005; Mullan and Singh, 2010). Those who have breakfast are less likely to over-eat for the rest of the day. According to the American Heart Association...