Is Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Associated with Eating Behavior and Emotional Appetite in Young Women?

Macit Çelebi M. S., Özata Uyar G., Yıldıran H., Köksal E.

REVISTA ESPAÑOLA DE NUTRICIÓN HUMANA Y DIETÉTICA, cilt.27, sa.2, ss.115-124, 2023 (ESCI, Scopus)

Özet

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) on eating attitudes and emotional appetite in young females aged 18-24.Methodology: A cross-sectional study (n=306) was conducted on young females. A questionnaire including demographic characteristics, Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), Emotional Eating Questionnaire (EMAQ), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was applied. Daily food consumption was obtained from the 24 -hour-food records and used to calculate the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (MAI). The researchers measured the body weight (kg) and height (cm).Results: Half of the participants (50.7%) have low adherence to the MD, moderate in 25.2%, and high in 24.2%. There is no statistical difference in MAI scores between EAT-26 groups (p>0.05). The dieting status was higher (28.2%) in the disordered eating tendencies group compared to the group without disordered eating tendencies (11.1%) (chi 2 =12.490, p<0.001). The scores of the negative total scores were higher in the group with disordered eating risk (p=0.004). Conclusions: Young females' low adherence to Mediterranean Diet might be associated with future health problems. No effect of MAI on disordered eating behavior was determined but EMAQ-negative sub and total scores were determined as a component of EAT-26. Early detection of diet quality and conditions associated with emotional eating disorders is thought to be important in preventing future health problems.