Examining the explanatory of eating attitudes on depression

For many years, the relationship between depression and eating disorders has been an important focus for researchers. Depression-related disorders are a significant public health problem in Turkey and around the world. Depression is among the most significant mental health issues threatening public health and it is also an important mental problem due to the loss of functionality and economic consequences it causes. (İnalkaç ve Arslantaş, 2021). The focus of this study is to investigate the relationship between individuals' eating attitudes and depression. When we look at the literature, there are extensive studies in many areas on the relationship between eating disorders and depression, but this study aims to contribute a novel perspective to the literature by revealing the relationship between different types of depression, which is a common mood disorder, and our different eating behaviors that change frequently depending on our mood, according to the relational screening model. It is thought that some eating attitudes will also have negative effects on mood. In particular, in this study, it is thought that there is a significant relationship between the types of depression in individuals with eating disorders. The findings may inform interventions aimed at promoting healthier eating habits. In conclusion, this study is of great importance in understanding the relationship between individuals' diet and mental state, so that individuals can live a healthier life. Research on this subject may assist individuals gain healthier eating attitudes and improve their mental state. The model of this research is a relational screening model. In order to collect data, scales were transferred to Google Forms and shared with participants through social media platforms and messaging apps and participants answered the forms and scales used in the research on a voluntary basis. The collected data were tested in the SPSS package program. Descriptive statistics methods were used to define the sample group and demographic data were used only to define the sample group. As a result, it was observed that eating disorders increased significantly as major depression increased in this study. It was determined that there was at least one accompanying diagnosis in 81.9% of eating disorder cases and the most common accompanying diagnosis was depression. In this context, eating counseling and psychological support from health professionals are very important. Eating a balanced and healthy diet, seeking psychological support, may help individuals by ensuring dietary monitoring under professional supervision when necessary, and making a healthy lifestyle habit gained through these may assist the individual in this process.