Determination of factors associated with mindful eating in patients applying to A private clinic for weight loss

The aim of this study is to determine the factors associated with mindful eating of patients who applied to a private clinic for weight loss. The research was carried out with 162 (59 male, 103 female) individuals without any chronic disease who applied to Dietitian Fatma Kenanoğlu Nutrition and Diet Counseling Center in Hatay Province Dortyol District between December 2021 and June 2022. The general information, demographic characteristics, nutritional habits, 24-hour physical activity status of the individuals, Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), 24-hour food consumption record were evaluated with the questionnaire. A negative significant relationship was found between the participants' mindful eating and body mass index (BMI), BDI total score, energy intake, and sleep duration (p=0.000r=-0.481- medium strong, p=0.000, r=-0.667- high strong, p=0.000, r=-0.476- medium strong, p=0.007, r=0.213- weak respectively). A positive and significant relationship was found between BDI scores and fat ratio, energy intake and sleep duration (p=0.000, r=0.468- medium strong, p=0.000, r=0.578- medium strong, p=0.011, r=0.200-weak respectively). A negative significant relationship was found between BDI total score and energy from physical activity (p=0,000, r=0,402-medium strong). A significant positive correlation was found between MEQ total score and physical activity (p=0,000, r=0,376-weak respectively). This study shows that mindful eating is associated with BMI, energy intake, depression level, and sleep duration. More studies are needed in larger populations to better understand the factors affecting mindful eating Key Words: Mindful eating, obesity, awareness, depression