Research Article

Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in Relation to Type 2 Diabetes Risk among Young Adults: A Cross Sectional Study

Volume: 10 Number: 2 August 31, 2026
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Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in Relation to Type 2 Diabetes Risk among Young Adults: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Aim: This study examined the relationship between eating-related attitudes, eating behavior patterns, and estimated type 2 diabetes risk in young adults.Material and Methods: The cross-sectional sample consisted of 814 university students aged 18–25 years, including 300 males and 514 females. Participants completed an anonymous web-based questionnaire. Eating attitudes were measured using the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), while cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating were assessed through the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ). Estimated type 2 diabetes risk was calculated with the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC). Correlation analyses were used to examine relationships among the study variables. Hierarchical linear regression was conducted for the continuous FINDRISC score, and binary logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with elevated estimated diabetes risk.Results: The participants had a mean age of 20.92 ± 1.76 years. Female participants had higher EAT-26 scores than males (14.25 ± 9.42 vs. 10.42 ± 8.12, p < 0.001) and were more frequently above the EAT-26 cut-off of ≥20 (22.18% vs. 12.67%, p < 0.001). FINDRISC scores increased in parallel with EAT-26 total score (r = 0.18, p < 0.001), uncontrolled eating (r = 0.24, p < 0.001), emotional eating (r = 0.19, p < 0.001), and BMI (r = 0.62, p < 0.001). In the hierarchical regression model, EAT-26 total score and uncontrolled eating remained significantly related to FINDRISC score. Logistic regression also showed that higher EAT-26, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating scores were associated with greater odds of elevated estimated type 2 diabetes risk.Conclusion: Less favorable eating attitudes and stronger uncontrolled and emotional eating tendencies were linked to higher estimated type 2 diabetes risk in young adults. Early assessment of eating-related attitudes and behaviors may therefore support preventionoriented approaches in this population.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Malatya Turgut Özal University

Ethical Statement

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was obtained from the Non-Interventional Research Ethics Committee of Malatya Turgut Özal University (Approval No: 2025/435).

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Public Health Nutrition

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

August 31, 2026

Submission Date

March 12, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 1, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 2

APA
Alataş, H., Arslan, N., Çıtlık Sarıtaş, S., & Miran, E. (2026). Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in Relation to Type 2 Diabetes Risk among Young Adults: A Cross Sectional Study. Turkish Journal of Diabetes and Obesity, 10(2), 164-175. https://izlik.org/JA95DD96AB
AMA
1.Alataş H, Arslan N, Çıtlık Sarıtaş S, Miran E. Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in Relation to Type 2 Diabetes Risk among Young Adults: A Cross Sectional Study. Turk J Diab Obes. 2026;10(2):164-175. https://izlik.org/JA95DD96AB
Chicago
Alataş, Hacer, Nurgül Arslan, Seyhan Çıtlık Sarıtaş, and Edanur Miran. 2026. “Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in Relation to Type 2 Diabetes Risk Among Young Adults: A Cross Sectional Study”. Turkish Journal of Diabetes and Obesity 10 (2): 164-75. https://izlik.org/JA95DD96AB.
EndNote
Alataş H, Arslan N, Çıtlık Sarıtaş S, Miran E (August 1, 2026) Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in Relation to Type 2 Diabetes Risk among Young Adults: A Cross Sectional Study. Turkish Journal of Diabetes and Obesity 10 2 164–175.
IEEE
[1]H. Alataş, N. Arslan, S. Çıtlık Sarıtaş, and E. Miran, “Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in Relation to Type 2 Diabetes Risk among Young Adults: A Cross Sectional Study”, Turk J Diab Obes, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 164–175, Aug. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA95DD96AB
ISNAD
Alataş, Hacer - Arslan, Nurgül - Çıtlık Sarıtaş, Seyhan - Miran, Edanur. “Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in Relation to Type 2 Diabetes Risk Among Young Adults: A Cross Sectional Study”. Turkish Journal of Diabetes and Obesity 10/2 (August 1, 2026): 164-175. https://izlik.org/JA95DD96AB.
JAMA
1.Alataş H, Arslan N, Çıtlık Sarıtaş S, Miran E. Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in Relation to Type 2 Diabetes Risk among Young Adults: A Cross Sectional Study. Turk J Diab Obes. 2026;10:164–175.
MLA
Alataş, Hacer, et al. “Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in Relation to Type 2 Diabetes Risk Among Young Adults: A Cross Sectional Study”. Turkish Journal of Diabetes and Obesity, vol. 10, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 164-75, https://izlik.org/JA95DD96AB.
Vancouver
1.Hacer Alataş, Nurgül Arslan, Seyhan Çıtlık Sarıtaş, Edanur Miran. Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in Relation to Type 2 Diabetes Risk among Young Adults: A Cross Sectional Study. Turk J Diab Obes [Internet]. 2026 Aug. 1;10(2):164-75. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA95DD96AB

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