The effect of weight cycling and abnormal eating behaviors on cardiometabolic risks and moods in individuals with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes

This study has been conducted to determine the effects of weight cycling and abnormal eating behaviors on cardiometabolic risk factors and moods in individuals who applied to the diabetes clinic. 100 individuals diagnosed with diabetes and prediabetes who were referred to the diabetes clinic of Bitlis Tatvan State Hospital by an internal medicine doctor between August 2021 and February 2022, participated in this cross-sectional study. Demographic characteristics, biochemical findings and blood pressures, weight cycling and mood states, and abnormal eating behaviors of individuals were examined with survey, and anthropometric measurements were taken by the researcher. Those who lost 5 kg or more and gained weight back once or twice in the last 10 years were classified as mild weight cycler, and those who lost 5 kg or more and gained weight back more than twice were classified as severe weight cycler and those who lost 5 kg or more and did not gain weight again were classified as non-weight cyclers. The International Physical Activity Short Form was used to determine the physical activity levels of the individuals, The Night Eating Questionnaire was used to determine the night eating situations, the Emotional Eater Scale was used to determine the emotional eating states, and the Food Craving Questionnaire (FCQ-Trait) Scale was used to detect the changes in eating behaviors. Moods of the individuals were evaluated with the Beck Depression Scale. 24-hours Food Consumption Record was utilized to determine the daily energy and nutrient intakes of the individuals. It has been determined that 44 % of individuals with Type 2 diabetes have had mild or severe weight cycling at least once in their lives, 24% of individuals with Type 2 diabetes and 14% of individuals with prediabetes have had a severe weight cycling. Metabolic syndrome was detected in 80% of individuals with type 2 diabetes and in 52% of individuals with prediabetes. The mean Emotional Eater Scale score of individuals with type 2 diabetes was determined as 8.4±4.66, and the mean Emotional Eater Scale score of those with prediabetes was determined as 8.8±4.91 (p>0.05). The mean FCQ-Trait scale scores of individuals with Type 2 diabetes were found to be 92.9±37.15, and 103.1±31.46 for individuals with prediabetes. No statistically significant difference was found between Night Eating Questionnaire scale, Emotional Eater scale and FCQ-Trait scale scores of individuals with Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes (p>0.05). While the mean score of Beck Depression Scale of individuals with Type 2 diabetes was found to be 20.44±8.28, it was found to be 17.66±7.55 in individuals with prediabetes. In conclusion, weight cycling and abnormal eating behaviors may be associated with cardiometabolic risk and mood, therefore, nutritional treatments of individuals with Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes who receive nutritional counseling can be provided by questioning their abnormal eating behaviors, and weight cycling and emotional states and a more efficient treatment can be applied by increasing the quality of life of the individuals.