Adaptation of adolescents to Mediterranean diet and detection of emotional eating and stress states

This study was planned and conducted to determine the healthy eating, emotional eating and stress status of adolescents. 281 volunteer adolescent individuals aged between 11-14 participated in this study. In the questionnaire form, the general characteristics of the individuals, anthropometric measurement data were determined and a 24-hour retrospective food consumption record was taken. In addition, the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED), the Nutrition Exercise Behaviors Scale (NEBS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Emotional Eating Scale for Children and Adolescents (EES-C) were applied. 58.4% of the adolescents participating in the study were male and 41.6% were female, with an average age of 11.94±1.08 for males and 12.30±1.15 years for females. 27.8% of the participants were slightly overweight and 16.7% were obese. There was no statistically significant difference in the percentages of adolescents meeting energy and nutrients (p>0.05). When the compliance of the participants to the Mediterranean Diet was examined, it was determined that 25.3% had low compliance, 53.0% moderate compliance, and 21.7% high compliance. KİDMED scores according to gender were statistically significant (χ2=7.412; p=0.025). The rate of very low and good diet quality in men was higher than the rate of very low and good diet quality in women. Women's PSS total scores were significantly higher than men's. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of NEBS total and subscale scores according to gender (p>0.05). EES-C total scores by gender were found to be statistically significant (Z=-4,056; p=0.000). Women's EES-C total scores were found to be significantly higher than men's. There was no statistically significant relationship between the scale scores used according to gender (p>0.05). It has been determined that adolescents with high BMI are recipient to stress and tend to eat emotionally (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between KIDMED and BMI according to gender (p>0.05). However, a relationship was found between PSS, NEBS, and EES-C (p<0.05). As a result of the logistic regression analysis, it was determined that age and gender were important parameters affecting very low diet quality (p<0.05). When the stress level rises, age increases and male adolescents, the level of compliance with the Mediterranean Diet decreases. In this study, compliance with the Mediterranean Diet, emotional eating and stress status in adolescents were extensively investigated and results were found to guide future studies. It is thought that there is a need for studies at the community level in order to take necessary precautions from an early age on gaining healthy eating habits, and to develop practices for emotional eating and coping with stress. At the end of the study, it was concluded that more comprehensive and supportive studies should be conducted on the subject in different age groups.