Investigation of food addiction and related factors of the university students

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: In this study, it was aimed to show the level of food addiction and factors affecting food addiction among university students, where bad eating habits such as fast food consumption and timeless meals are increasingly common. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted between 01.06.2019 and 30.06.2019 at Sakarya University Medico Social Health Center. Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale Version 2.0 which questions the eating habits of the participants and the personal information were applied and the relationship between each other were evaluated. To determine the level of statistical significance, 95% confidence interval and p≤0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 242 people, 169 (69.8%) women and 73 (30.2%) men, participated in our study. The mean score was calculated as 0.90 ± 1.61 SD. It was observed that the participants who ate four main meals had a higher total score comparing for the participants who ate two and three main meals and those who did not attempt to lose weight in the past year. There is a statistically significant difference between the frequency of night eating and fast food eating and the total score obtained from the scale. As the participants body perceptions progressed as weak, normal, slightly overweight, and fat; statistically significantly increased in the total score they received from the mYFAS 2.0. Participants with food addiction were found to have higher body mass index values. CONCLUSIONS: Eating addiction; It is an issue that should be given importance in terms of the factors it is associated with and its future results. In particular, it is thought that one of its consequences may be related to obesity which is one of the biggest problems of our time. Therefore, more comprehensive studies are needed to reveal possible causes and consequences. Key Words: Food Addiction, Modifiye Yale Food Addiction Scale Version 2.0, mYFAS 2.0