Determination of bowel habits and dietary fiber intake levels in over 30 years and overweight and obese women

The aim of the study is to observe the bowel habits and the frequency of constipation in overweight and obese individuals and to evaluate the fiber consumption and types, which play an important role in the nutritional treatment of constipation. The study was carried out with 98 female participants over 30 years old, overweight or obese, who applied to the Private Kartal Avicenna Umut Hospital Nutrition and Diet Polyclinic in Kartal district of Istanbul. Questionnaires including general information, nutritional habits, physical activity levels, probiotic knowledge levels, Bristol Stool Scale and Rome III Criteria for bowel habits, frequency of fermented food consumption, frequency of fiber food consumption to evaluate dietary fiber intake, and 3-day food consumption record were applied to the individuals. . Constipation status of individuals, Bristol Stool Scale and Rome III Criteria were evaluated separately and together. The mean BMI of the research group was determined as 29.9 ± 4.2 kg/m2. When bowel habits were evaluated with Bristol Stool Form and Rome III Criteria, the frequency of constipation was found to be 19.4%. When the dietary fiber consumption adequacy of the individuals was evaluated according to 14 gr/1000 kcal/day, it was seen that 72.4% of them had insufficient fiber consumption. Dietary fiber consumption averages were determined as 20.4 ± 5.6 gr. According to the Bristol Stool Scale, the frequency of hard stools was observed as 24.5%. No significant correlation was found between water, dietary fiber adequacy and physical activity status and constipation according to Rome III Criteria (p>0.05). When Rome III Criteria and Bristol Stool Form were evaluated together, no significant relationship was found between constipation status and physical activity, water and fiber consumption (p>0.05). A positive and significant correlation was found between soluble dietary fiber consumption and Bristol Stool Scale scores (p<0.05). It has been stated by individuals that as the amount of soluble fiber consumption increases, the stool form softens. While evaluating the effect of dietary fiber intake on bowel habits in overweight and obese individuals, it is supported as a result of the study that the type of dietary fiber should be evaluated as well as the adequacy of consumption.