Determination of nutritional habits of women aged 20-45 in all three menstrual cycle periods, pre-menstrual, menstrual and post menstrual period. medical sciences of baskent university institute of nutrition and dietetics

Determination of Nutritional Habits of women aged 20-45 in all three Menstrual Cycle Periods, pre-menstrual, menstrual and post menstrual period. Medical Sciences of Baskent University Institute of Nutrition and Dietetics. Master's Thesis, Ankara, 2016 by Seniha Çukurovalı Soykurt. The Menstrual cycle is a complex cycle that can be affected by many factors. Nutrition and eating habits affect the menstrual cycle through malnutrition and overfeeding. The purpose of this study is to determine the anthropometric measurement of the pre-menstrual period, menstrual period and post-menstrual period on women aged between 20 - 45 and to assess the differences of nutritional status, food preferences and eating attitudes. Using the detailed analysis results, the aim is to make comparisons between energy obtained with the evaluation of input of nutrients. Research was conducted on 100 women aged between 20-45 admitted to Ankara Ataturk Training and Research Hospital the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department between December 2015 and January 2016. A questionnaire consisted of personal information and data gathering from each of the participants to determine the affect on their food intake, energy balance and physical dietary changes seen during the three phases of the menstrual cycle. The average age of participants in the study was found to be 32.5±7.62 years. Average age of first menstruation for participating was found 12.99± 1.23 years old. Moreover, average of BMI (kg/m2) of participating was found 24.68± 4.25. 62 % of the individuals participating in the study experienced an increase in appetite during the pre-menstrual period and 30% of the individuals experienced no change in appetite whilst 8% experienced a decrease in appetite. 90 of the 100 women who participated in the study felt the need to consume dessert before menstruation, 21 women felt the need to consume salty foods, 16 felt the need for bitter food and 14 felt the need to consume sour flavoured food. As a result of the research, we have found that the menstrual cycle is associated with eating behaviours and nutritional value/status and so it is therefore important to develop a healthy diet and lifestyle, in accordance with women's age groups and physiological needs. However there is a need for a further study to examine this in greater detail. KEYWORDS: Nutritional status, menstrual cycle, eating attitude, energy intake, eating habits. This study is approved by the Baskent University of Medical and Health Sciences Research Committee and the Ethics Committee (Project No. KA 15/102). It is supported by the Baskent University's Fund for Research.