Investigation of the relationship between social isolation and emotional eating behavior during the pandemic period

The COVID-19 process, which was proclaimed as a "pandemic" by the World Health Organization (WHO), has had negative effects in the social life of individuals. Due to social isolation measures changes occurred in the emotional eating and anxiety states of individuals. The aim of this study is to examine that the relationship between emotional eating behavior and anxiety status of individuals in social isolation during the pandemic process. Totally 750 people are participated to the study which is include 305 men and 445 women over the age of 18. In the study, a questionnaire which has demographic information, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EMAQ) and Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R18) were applied to the participants. According to TFEQ-R18 scale; As BMI increases, emotional eating, cognitive restriction and susceptibility to hunger scores increase. According to EMAQ; obese individuals have been higher score in negative emotions and situations than other participants (p<0,05). EMAQ negative scores were significantly positively correlated with BMI but EMAQ positive scores were significantly inversely correlated with BMI. Individuals with low BMI have higher GAD-7 scores (p<0,05). It was determined that women's GAD-7 scores were higher than men's (p<0,05). 45,5% of the participants reported that they gained weight during this period. As the anxiety level of individuals in social isolation increases; there was a significant increase in emotional eating, uncontrolled eating and susceptibility to hunger scores (p<0,05). In addition, EMAQ positive-negative total scores are also associated with emotional eating and uncontrolled eating (p<0,05). As a result, COVID-19 anxiety can affect eating behavior directly or indirectly, but the relationship between anxiety and appetite in positive-negative situations and emotions varies. For this reason, more studies are needed to better understand the effects of pandemics and disasters on individuals anxiety, emotional eating and emotional appetite.