Evaluation of the relationship of intuitive eating with body perception and self-esteem in university students

This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between intuitive eating and body image and self-esteem in university students. 270 volunteer students (61.9% female, 20.74±2.07 years) from Ankara University Faculty of Health Sciences were included in this study. In the study, "Intuitive Eating Scale-2", "Body Perception Scale", "Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale" and a questionnaire that aims to collect students' sociodemographic information were used. It has been determined that intuitive eating behavior is associated with parameters affecting psychological well-being, including body image and self-esteem, and with body anthropometric measurements. It has been noticed that as the body weight of the students increased, the intuitive eating score decreased (r=-0.079, p=0.097), the body image score (r=0.144, p=0.009) and the self-esteem score (r=0.020, p=0.371) increased. It was found that as the BMI of the students increased, they got significantly less intuitive eating score (r=-0.185, p=0.001). When the correlation between students' intuitive eating and intuitive eating subscale scores and body image and self-esteem scores had been examined, students' intuitive eating scores and unconditional permission to eat (r=0.753, p=0.000), eating for physical reasons rather than emotional reasons (r=0.865, p= 0.000), reliance on hunger and satiety cues (r=0.735, p=0.000), and body-food choice congruence (r=0.653, r=0.000) subscale scores revealed positive correlations. It has been determined that as the intuitive eating scores of the students participating in the study increase, they get more positive body image (r=0.383, p=0.000) and higher self-esteem (r=-0.294, p=0.000) (p<0.05). Self-esteem score, which is negatively correlated with students' body perception scores (r=-0.427, p=0.000), indicates that individuals develop higher self-esteem when they have a positive body image. The findings reveal that intuitive eating behavior will contribute to a more positive body image and higher self-esteem. In this study, the relationship between intuitive eating and body image and self-esteem was investigated in university students, who are a risky group, and statistically significant results were obtained. In this respect, it can serve as a light for further research on intuitive eating and health protection and promotion.