Evaluation of the effect of nurses working type on hedonic hunger levels, Sleep Quality and Body Mass Index

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of working style on hedonic hunger levels, sleep quality and body mass ındex of nurses. The research was conducted on 169 nurses with different working styles at Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Health Practice and Research Hospital. The questionnaire evaluated general and sociodemographic characteristics, dietary habits, working conditions, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Nutrient Strength Scale (NSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and 24-hour physical activity status.The study included 85.2% female and 14.8% male participants with a mean age of 31.1±7.34 years. No significant age differences were found between genders or study types (p˃0.05). Among the study group, 35% were slightly obese, 10% were obese, and 57% had gained weight since starting work. Additionally, 75.1% reported experiencing hedonic hunger and 75% reported poor quality sleep. There were no significant differences in food power scale scores, PDQI scores, and physical activity levels based on the type of work. Similarly, no significant difference was found in individuals' cravings for bread, nuts, seeds, cold carbonated drinks, pasta, chocolate and sugary products, french fries, chips, fast food, pastries, fruit, ice cream, cream cakes, and pastry products based on their working styles (p > 0.05). Our study found a moderate positive correlation between BMI and age, as well as a weak negative correlation between BMI and age.To ensure objectivity, it is recommended to evaluate food consumption in the presence of hedonic hunger and provide guidance on healthy food choices. A longitudinal evaluation of the effects of poor sleep quality and hedonic hunger, which were found to be high in nurses, is necessary.