Do sociodemographic factors and anthropometric measurements affect eating behavior patterns?
ISSN: 0034-6659
Article publication date: 10 June 2021
Issue publication date: 6 October 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Obesity is a chronic disease and it is very important to determine the underlying factors at the early stage. Disturbance in eating behaviors may predict the obesity risk.
Design/methodology/approach
In the present study, it was aimed to investigate eating behavior of Turkish adults by using The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18 (TFEQ-R18) and to analyze the association between anthropometric measurements and socio-demographic factors.
Findings
Individuals composed of 698 males, aged 28.6 ± 10.3 years and 1,736 females, aged 25.1 ± 7.8 years. Demographic characteristics participants were obtained via a questionnaire. TFEQ-R18for assessing eating behavior was used. Results claim that the usage of TFEQ-R18 was appropriate for non-obese individuals (Cronbach’s α value 0.83 for underweight group (n = 180, 7.4%), 0.76 for normal group (n = 1604, 65.9%), 0.69 for overweight group (n = 492, 20.2%), 0.69 obese group (n = 158, 6.5%). Gender seems to effect emotional eating scores (p = 0.026) and employment status seem to affect all TFEQ-R18 sub-group dimensions (cognitive eating scores, p = 0.022, uncontrolled eating scores, p < 0.001, emotional eating scores, p < 0.001). Divorced individuals tend to have higher cognitive restraint scores (16.2 ± 3.7). Although, single people have higher emotional eating scores (7.5 ± 2.6) (p = 0.006). There is a positive correlation among waist–height ratio, waist and neck circumference and cognitive restraint and uncontrolled eating scores (p < 0.001). However, body weight and height correlate negatively with cognitive restraint scores (p < 0.001).
Originality/value
According to the authors’ knowledge, this study gives brief results for the usage of TFEQ-R18 and the ability to predict eating behaviors in the general population.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to kindly thank to participants and Nutrition and Dietetic students for their contribution to collect the study data.
Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Compliance with ethical standards
Conflict of interest: All authors confirmed there is no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval: Ethical approval was taken from Gazi University Ethics Commission (number: 77082166–604.01.02).
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in the study.
Citation
Koksal, E., Macit, M.S., Bilici, S. and Karabudak, E. (2021), "Do sociodemographic factors and anthropometric measurements affect eating behavior patterns?", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 51 No. 8, pp. 1224-1235. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-12-2020-0453
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited