Nutritional Trends Among Athletes: The Predictive Effect of Body Image Concerns

Öz

This study aims to evaluate the predictive role of social physical anxiety in hedonistic hunger and intuitive eating among athlete participants enrolled in sports science faculties. The study sample consisted of a total of 262 participants, including 112 women and 150 men, all of whom were enrolled in sports science faculties and had a history of competitive sports. The data collection tools included a personal information form, the “Social Body Image Anxiety Scale,” the “Food Power Scale,” and the “Intuitive Eating Scale.” After confirming that the collected data met the normality assumption, Pearson correlation was used to assess the relationships between variables, and regression analysis was employed to determine the effect. According to the findings, there is a positive and significant relationship between social body image anxiety and hedonic hunger. In contrast, a negative but statistically insignificant relationship was found between social body image anxiety and intuitive eating. Furthermore, the results of the regression analysis indicate that social body image anxiety significantly predicts food power. It can be stated that social body image anxiety is a potential risk factor that may increase hedonistic hunger and, although not statistically significant, intuitive eating tendencies among athletes. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the development of athletes’ physical and psychological performance from a socio-psychological perspective.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Hedonic hunger
• anxiety
• intuitive eating
• social image

Etik Beyan

The necessary approval for the study was obtained from the Fırat University Research and Publication Ethics Committee [Ethics Committee Approval Date: March 5, 2026, Decision No. 07].

Sporcularda Beslenme Eğilimi: Sosyal Fizik Kaygısının Yordayıcı Etkisi

Öz

Bu çalışma, spor bilimleri fakültelerinde öğrenim gören sporcu katılımcıların sosyal fizik kaygılarının hedonik açlık ve sezgisel beslenme üzerindeki yordayıcı rolünü değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırma grubunu spor bilimleri fakültelerinde öğrenim gören ve sporcu geçmişi olan 112 kadın ve 150 erkek olmak üzere toplam 262 katılımcı oluşturmuştur. Veri toplama aracı olarak kişisel bilgi formu, “sosyal fizik kaygı ölçeği”, “Besin gücü ölçeği” ile “Sezgisel ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen verilerin analizi sonucunda verilerin normal dağılım gösterdiği görülmüş parametreler arasındaki ilişkileri değerlendirmek için Pearson Korelasyon ve etkinin belirlenmesi için Regresyon analizi kullanılmıştır. Analizler sonucunda sosyal fizik kaygısı ile hedonik açlık arasında pozitif ve anlamlı bir ilişki olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Buna karşın, sosyal fizik kaygısı ile sezgisel yeme arasında negatif yönlü ancak istatistiksel olarak anlamlı olmayan bir ilişki tespit edilmiştir. Yapılan regresyon analizi sonucuna göre ise sosyal fizik kaygısının besin gücünü anlamlı düzeyde %6 yordadığı görülmektedir Sonuç olarak, sosyal fizik kaygısının sporcularda hedonik açlık ve anlamlı olmasa da sezgisel beslenme eğilimini artırabilecek potansiyel bir risk faktörü olduğu söylenebilir. Dolayısıyla sporcuların hem fiziksel hem de psikolojik performanslarının gelişiminin sosyo-psikolojik açıdan değerlendirilmesi önem arz etmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Hedonik açlık
• kaygı
• sezgisel beslenme
• sosyal görünüş

Etik Beyan

Çalışma için gerekli onay, Fırat Üniversitesi Araştırma ve Yayın Etik Kurulu'ndan alınmıştır [Etik Kurulu Onay Tarihi: 5 Mart 2026, Karar No. 07].

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