Evaluation of the effect of body mass on bodysatisfaction and eating attitude

This study aims to evaluate the impact of body mass on body satisfaction and eating attitudes of individuals seeking the help of a dietitian and was conducted on 134 individuals with different Body Mass Index (BMI) values, ranging from 20 to 55 years of age, who applied to a nutrition counseling center in Istanbul. The participants' typical characteristics, dietary intake records, physical activity status, and anthropometric measurements were collected. The Body Appreciation Scale (BAS) was used, and the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) was employed to evaluate eating attitudes and behaviors. A statistically significant difference was found between regular exercise and BAS scores of the participants. Individuals who did not engage in regular exercise had higher average scores on the BAS scale compared to those who did exercise regularly. There was also a statistically significant difference between participants' ages and EAT-26 scores. Participants aged 25-40 had higher average EAT-26 scores compared to those aged 18-25. When examining the relationship between EAT-26 and food component consumption, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between the percentage of fat intake and EAT-26 scores among women. In conclusion, there is a statistically significant, but low-level positive correlation between BMI and BAS scores, indicating that higher BMI is associated with higher body satisfaction. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between participants' BMI and EAT-26 scores, suggesting that BMI does not significantly influence eating attitudes and behaviors in this study.