Examination of the relationship between the eating behaviors, daytime sleepiness status and physical activity levels of healthcare professionals and body mass indexs

Body mass index (BMI) is one of the practical and reliable measure used to detect obesity. In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between health workers' eating behaviors, daytime sleepiness and physical activity levels and BMI. The research was carried out with the participation of 365 healthcare professionals serving in private and public hospitals in different provinces between September-November 2022. The data were collected by using demographic information questionnaire, International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), 24-hour Dietary Recall Form, Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26), Epworth Sleepiness Scale(ESS) and Dutch Eating Behaviors Questionnaire (DEBQ). 24.4% of the individuals participating in the research are male and 75.6% are female. The mean BMI of male and female individuals was determined as 26.3±3.35 kg/m2 and 22.9±4.42 kg/m2, respectively (p<0.05). No significant correlation was found between EAT-26, ESS and BMI (p>0.05). The restrained eating attitude (EA) score was found to be lower in thin individuals than other individuals (p<0.05). As the sleepiness levels of individuals increase during the day; restrained, emotional and external EA, age and body weight were found to increase (p>0.05). As a result of the regression analyzes, it was stated that a one-unit increase in the BMI values of individuals contributed to a decrease in the value of the -92,553-unit decrease in the MET value (p<0.05). Finally, although the BMI values of individuals were not found to have an effect on eating attitude and sleep, it was found to be associated with restrained eating behavior. In order to clarify these results, it is recommended to increase the number of similar studies and perform them in a larger sample.