Assessment of nutritional status, appetite, food craving according to mindful eating in university students

The aim of this study is the assessment of nutritional status, appetite and food craving according to mindful eating in university students. The study was conducted with 180 university students of health and other faculties in Ankara Başkent University between May-June 2018. Socio-demographic information, health status, height and weight were recorded by the form, appetite was assessed with visual analogue scale (VAS), adapted in Turkish population Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ) and validated and reliability confirmed Food Craving Questionnaire (FCQ) was applied. Nutrition status was assessed using 24 hour food recall method. The average age of young females and males was 20.8±1.81 and 21.6±1.78 years respectively. The average appetite score of young females and males was 7.4 and 7.1 respectively (p>0.05). The FCQ score of students of health faculties was 46.3±39.16 points, the score of students of other faculties was 159.8±37.62 points (p<0.05). MEQ scores for both faculty students were 93.5±12.99 and 94.0±13.22 points respectively (p>0.05). Statistically significant weak negative relationship between the average daily consumption of energy, protein, fat and carbohydrate and FCQ and MEQ scores was found (p<0.05). Statistically significant weak negative relationship between average appetite score and the average daily consumption of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate and micronutrient (iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, thiamine, riboflavine, niacin, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12) consumption was observed (p<0.05). There was no significant relationship between appetite status and age, physical activity time, body mass index (BMI), average alcohol and tobacco consumption (p>0.05). As a result, it was concluded that food craving and mindful eating influences daily consumption of energy, fat and carbohydrates in university students. Depending on the appetite status, the consumption of macronutrients and micronutrients is changing. Acquiring mindfulness in eating would be effective in promoting health and weight management for university students. Keywords: nutrition, mindful eating, food craving, appetite, obesity.