The relationship between intuitive eating behavior, body composition and life satisfaction in university staff

The topic of this study is the level of intuitive eating among university personnel and the potential effects of intuitive eating behavior on body composition and life satisfaction. The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of intuitive eating on physical indicators and overall life satisfaction. It is a quantitative, cross-sectional, and archival-based research carried out using a causal-comparative and relational model. The participants of the study consisted of 130 academic and administrative staff working at Isparta University of Applied Sciences. Participants who were informed about the purpose of the study and voluntarily agreed to participate underwent measurements using a BIA device conducted in the same center. They also completed a questionnaire that included demographic, health and lifestyle information, the Intuitive Eating Scale-2, the Mindful Eating Questionnaire-30 and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. There is a significant positive relationship between overall mindful eating (total score of the mindful eating scale) and life satisfaction (r = 0.191, p = 0.029). A significant negative correlation was found between visceral fat and intuitive eating levels (r = -0.182, p = 0.038), as well as between freedom and flexibility with food (r = -0.206, p = 0.018) and body responsiveness (r = -0.180, p = 0.041). It was also found that there was a significant difference in life satisfaction between participants who used medication and those who did not (p=0.042). According to the regression analyses, increased levels of intuitive eating were positively correlated with eating without thinking and negatively correlated with emotional eating. Life satisfaction is significantly higher among individuals who are married or over the age of 35. In conclusion, both marital status and certain dimensions of mindful eating play a significant role in understanding the relationship between intuitive eating and life satisfaction. Future studies with larger sample sizes and conducted among individuals from different age groups or communities may offer more comprehensive findings.