Are Stress Levels, Hedonic Hunger, and Emotional Eating Effective on Obesity?

Abstract

Objectives: This study was planned to investigate the effects of perceived stress level, hedonic hunger, and emotional eating on obesity and their relationships with each other in adults. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire form prepared online due to the Covid-19 pandemic was applied to 212 adult individuals (18-65 years). The questionnaire form consisted of general characteristics and eating habits of the individuals, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) to determine the stress level along with Power of Food Scale (PFS) for hedonic hunger level, and Emotional Eating Scale (EES) to determine emotional eating states. Results: It was determined that stress levels of female individuals were high. It was determined that individuals with high-stress levels had higher body mass indexes (BMI) (p=0.046). At the same time, it was determined that the total scores of women in PSS, PFS, and EES were significantly higher. It was observed that total scores of obese individuals from all three scales were higher (p<0.05). A moderately positive relationship was found between emotional eating and BMI (r=0.483; p<0.001), and also hedonic hunger (r=0.594; p<0.001), while a weak but positive relationship was found between emotional eating and stress level (r=0.290; p<0.001). Conclusion: Positive relationships between stress, hedonic hunger, and emotional eating triad may contribute to unhealthy eating patterns by triggering food intake in individuals, thus may be a risk factor for obesity. Therefore, understanding the underlying mechanisms and considering the effects of interventions, strategies to promote healthier eating behaviors in individuals may contribute to prevention of obesity.

Keywords

• stress level
• hedonic hunger
• emotional eating

Stres Düzeyi, Hedonik Açlık ve Duygusal Yeme Obezite Üzerinde Etkili mi?

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, yetişkin bireylerde algılanan stres düzeyi, hedonik açlık ve duygusal yemenin obezite üzerindeki etkilerini ve birbirleri ile olan ilişkilerini araştırmak amacıyla planlamıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: 18-65 yaş aralığındaki 212 yetişkin bireye, Covid-19 pandemisi nedeniyle çevrim içi (online) olarak hazırlanan anket formu uygulanmıştır. Anket formu, bireylerin genel özellikleri ve beslenme alışkanlıkları ile birlikte stres düzeyini belirlenmesi için Algılanan Stres Düzeyi Ölçeği (ASÖ), hedonik açlık düzeyi için Besin Gücü Ölçeği (BGÖ) ve duygusal yeme durumlarının belirlenmesi için Duygusal Yeme Ölçeği (DYÖ)’nden oluşmuştur. Bulgular: Kadın bireylerin stres düzeylerinin yüksek olduğu saptanmıştır (sırasıyla; K: %28.8, E: %3.6, p=0.04). Stres düzeyi yüksek olan bireylerin beden kütle indekslerinin (BKİ) daha yüksek olduğu belirlenmiştir (p=0.046). Aynı zamanda kadınların ASÖ, BGÖ ve DYÖ’den aldıkları toplam puanların anlamlı şekilde daha yüksek olduğu saptanmıştır (p<0.05). BKİ grupları değerlendirildiğinde, obez bireylerin her üç ölçekten aldıkları toplam puanların daha yüksek olduğu görülmüştür (p<0.05). Duygusal yeme ile BKİ (r=0.483; p<0.001) ve hedonik açlık (r=0.594; p<0.001) arasında orta düzeyde pozitif yönlü, duygusal yeme ve stres düzeyi arasında da zayıf, ancak pozitif yönlü bir ilişki saptanmıştır (r=0.290; p<0.001). Sonuç: Stres, hedonik açlık ve duygusal yeme üçlemesi arasındaki pozitif yönlü ilişkiler, bireylerde besin alımını tetikleyerek, sağlıksız beslenme modellerine katkıda bulunabilir ve dolayısıyla obezite için risk faktörü olabilir. Bu nedenle altta yatan mekanizmaları anlamak, bireylerde daha sağlıklı yeme davranışlarını teşvik etmek için yapılan müdahale ve stratejilerin etkilerini göz önünde bulundurmak, obezitenin önlenmesine katkı sağlayabilir

Keywords

• stres düzeyi
• hedonik açlık
• duygusal yeme

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