Determination of the relationship between intuitive eating behavior and hedonic hunger and food cravings i̇n obese and non-obese adults

Karakaş H.M, Determination of the Relationship Between Intuitive Eating Behavior And Hedonic Hunger And Food Cravings İn Obese And Non-Obese Adults. Başkent University, Institute of Health Sciences, Nutrition and Dietetics Master Thesis 2020. This study was planned to determine the relationship between intuitive eating behavior and hedonic hunger and food cravings in obese and non-obese adults. The study was conducted on 322 adult individuals, 211 female and 111 male volunteers aged 18-65 years, living in Yalova's Armutlu district. The survey of the study consists of 3 stages. In the first stage, the questionnaire form to determine the demographic characteristics, general health information, nutritional habits, and physical activity levels of the individuals participating in the study, the Intuitive Eating Scale (IES-2) to determine the intuitive eating states, Power of Food Scale (PFS) to identify hedonic hunger states, and Food Craving Questionnaire (FCQ) was applied because it may affect the hedonic hunger status of individuals.The mean age of the individuals participating in the study was 37.8±12.0 years; 20.4% of women are overweight, 14.2% are obese, 45% of men are overweight, 14.4% are obese. 43.2% of all individuals participating in the study are obese and 56.8% are not obese. There was a negative correlation between the IES total score, the 4th sub-factor, body-food selection fit, and body mass index, and this relationship was statistically significant (p> 0.05). This shows that as BMI increases, there is a decrease in intuitive eating scores. It was found that individuals who underwent a weight loss diet had a lower IES total score and 3 sub-factors scores than those who did not (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between the genders in terms of hedonic hunger scores (p>0.05). Hedonic hunger differs according to BMI groups. It is seen that obese individuals have higher hedonic hunger score than normal weight individuals (p<0.01). Hedonic hunger was found to decrease with age (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between genders in terms of excessive food desire total scores (p>0.05). The mean and lower factor mean scores of the FCQ scale were higher in individuals with hedonic hunger than those without (p <0.05). FCQ scale total and sub-factor scores differ between age groups. The scores of individuals between the ages of 54-65 were found to be significantly lower than those in the other age group (p<0.05). A positive correlation was found between FCQ Scale's sub-factor 1, sub-factor 4 and sub-factor 9 and waist circumference of the individuals, and this relationship was found to be statistically significant (p>0.05). A negative and statistically significant correlation was observed between the total score of the IES and the total score of the food power scale and its sub-factors, factor 1, factor 2 of the individuals (p>0.05). A negative and statistically significant correlation was observed between FCQ total score and intuitive eating total score and its sub-factors, factor 1, factor 2 and factor 4 (p<0.05). A positive correlation and statistically significant correlation was found between the total score of the food craving scale and the total score of the power of food scale and all its sub-factors (p>0.05). As a result, it was observed that individuals with hedonic hunger also had food cravings behavior, as hedonic hunger and food cravings increased, intuitive eating scores decreased and these scales were related. Keywords: Obesity, intuitive eating, power of food, food cravings, hedonic hunger.