Relationship between individuals eating behaviors and body mass index

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between individuals' eating attitudes behavior and body mass index (BMI). We enrolled voluntarily women who wanted to lose weight (n=400) aged between 18-65 years. A questionnaire including socio-demographic characteristics, was applied to participants. Anthropometric measurements were taken by using bioelectrical impedance analysis. To determine the participants, risk of eating attitude disorder we applied Eating Attitude Test (EAT40) consisting of 40 items. 51,7% of women were scored 30 points or more on EAT40 scale (mean±SD 26,72 ± 14,22). We found that only 18 (8,7%) of these 207 individuals had BMI in normal the range (18.5-24,9 kg/m²). Moreover, we found that BMI of 78 (37,7%) women were in the range of 25-29,9 kg/m². And 111 (53,6%) women were obese. We found a positive and highly statistically significant correlation between the EAT40 scores and the BMI index values of women (r=0,614, p=0,001). We determined that 30 individuals with EAT40 scale score of 30 and above were in primary education, l65 individuals were in high school, 105 individuals were undergraduate and 7 were postgraduate. We found low level of statistically significant negative correlation between the women education status and eating attitude disorder (r=-0,218, p=0,001). While BMI was ascending, increasing EAT40 score accompanies this suggested that eating attitude disorder has an effect on the prevalance of obesity. This scale should be applied to patients with anorexia and bulimia nervosa, as well as all obese women who apply to the clinic for slimming. Firstly, eating attitudes and behaviors should be evaluated then behavioral change treatment should be done together with a multidisciplinary approach while arranging appropriate treatment. Key Words: Body Mass Index, Eating Attitude Test (EAT40), Eating Disorder, Eating Attitudes Behavior