The Effect of Physical Activity Level on Intuitive Eating and Mindful Eating

Abstract

Physical activity (PA) can provide self-control in regulating individuals’ nutritional behaviors and physically active individuals tend to adopt healthier dietary habits compared to less physically active ones. There is a growing interest in the concept of mindful eating (ME) and intuitive eating (IE) in modulating healthy dietary habits. The significance of PA on IE and ME as well as the relationship between them is not clear in the literature. Thus, this study evaluated the effects of PA level on IE and ME. Using convenience sampling, a total of 423 participants, with n = 205 healthy females (M =26.00, SD =7.33 years; M =21.96, SD =3.40 kg/m−2) and n= 218 healthy males (M =25.95, SD =6.32 years; M =24.56, SD =3.41 kg/m−2), participated in this study. Participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, Intuitive Eating Scale-2, Mindful Eating Questionnaire, and Eating Attitudes Test. Student’s t-test or Mann–Whitney U test for two-group comparisons, as well as Kruskal–Wallis H test or one-way ANOVA for three-group comparisons, were conducted for statistical analyses, and a multiple linear regression analysis was used. However, IE and ME total scores were not significantly different among inactive, minimally active, and sufficiently active participants in both genders. According to multiple linear regression analysis, the effect of the total PA score on IE and ME was not found to be significant. The relationship between PA, IE, and ME is not visible. Thus, further studies are needed to develop effective intervention strategies in both general and clinical populations.

Keywords

• Physical activity
• Intuitive eating
• Mindful eating

Fiziksel Aktivite Düzeyinin Sezgisel Yeme ve Yeme Farkındalığı Üzerine Etkisi

Öz

Fiziksel aktivite bireylerin beslenme davranışlarını düzenlemede özdenetim sağlayabilir. Fiziksel olarak aktif bireyler, daha az aktif olanlara göre sağlıklı beslenme alışkanlıklarını benimseme eğilimindedir. Sağlıklı beslenme alışkanlıklarını düzenlemede yeme farkındalığı ve sezgisel yeme kavramlarına olan ilgi artmaktadır. Fiziksel aktivitenin sezgisel yeme ve yeme farkındalığı üzerindeki rolü ve aralarındaki ilişki literatürde net olarak belirtilmemiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, fiziksel aktivite düzeyinin sezgisel yeme ve yeme farkındalığı üzerindeki etkilerini değerlendirmektir. Çalışmaya kolayda örnekleme yöntemi ile toplam 423 sağlıklı kadın (n=205) (Ort. =26.00, S =7.33 yıl; Ort. =21.96, S =3.40 kg/m2) ve erkek (n=218) (Ort. =25.95, S =6.32 yıl; Ort. =24.56, S =3.41 kg/m2) katılmıştır. Bireylere Uluslararası fiziksel aktivite anketi-kısa form, sezgisel yeme ölçeği-2, yeme farkındalığı ölçeği ve yeme tutum testi-kısa form uygulanmıştır. İki grup karşılaştırmalarında Student t-testi veya Mann Whitney U testi, üç grup karşılaştırmalarında Kruskal Wallis H testi veya tek yönlü ANOVA yapılmıştır. Ayrıca çoklu doğrusal regresyon analizi uygulanmıştır. Her iki cinsiyette de aktif olmayan, minimal aktif ve aktif bireyler arasında sezgisel yeme ve yeme farkındalığı toplam puanlarında anlamlı bir farklılık bulunmamıştır. Çoklu doğrusal regresyon analizine göre toplam fiziksel aktivite puanının sezgisel yeme ve yeme farkındalığı üzerindeki etkisi anlamlı değildir. Hem genel hem de klinik popülasyonda etkili müdahale stratejileri geliştirmek için daha fazla çalışmaya ihtiyaç vardır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Fiziksel aktivite
• Sezgisel yeme
• Yeme farkındalığı

Kaynakça

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