The relationship between eating attitudes and depression, anxiety and impulsivity in medical students

Eating behavior disorders are a complex psychiatric illness that includes impairments in eating behaviors and attitudes and negatively affects the physical and mental health of the person. Nowadays, eating disorders; affecting many aspects of people's lives, being a common disorder, causing many physical symptoms, having a physical health and even life-threatening dimension, the treatment process being difficult, long and costly, the possibility of recurrence, also due to the accompanying mood disorders such as depression-anxiety and the increasing prevalence especially in young people, it has become a group of diseases that are increasingly important in terms of public mental health and are frequently examined. Incomplete understanding of the relationship between eating attidute disorders and depression, anxiety and impulsivity; causes inability to provide a holistic treatment and prolong the disease process. Our study is a cross-sectional descriptive research; the questionnaire, which aims to evaluate the presence of eating attitude disorder, depression, anxiety, impulsivity level and the relationship between them, together with sociodemographic characteristics, was conducted with the method of applying a face-to-face questionnaire in students studying at medical school. Within the scope of the study, 588 students studying at Başkent University Faculty of Medicine during the 2019-2020 academic year and agreeing to participate in the study were included in the research. In the questionnaire form used in the study, there are a total of 37 questions, including 15 questions about sociodemographic characteristics, 10 questions about nutrition and sports status, 6 questions about illness, 4 questions about smoking/alcohol, and 2 questions about risky behavior. In addition, the "Eating Attitude Test" consisting of 40 questions, the "Beck Depression Inventory" consisting of 21 questions, the "Beck Anxiety Scale" consisting of 21 questions and the "Barratt Impulsivity Scale" consisting of 15 questions were applied to the participants. It was determined that 9,4% of the students had impaired eating attitude or impaired eating behavior. Eating attitude disorder; while it was observed in 11,9% of female students and 4,4% of male students, the relationship between eating attitude and gender was found to be significant (p<0,05). A positive relationship was found between eating attitude disorder and depression and anxiety, and a negative relationship between impulsivity not to plan. No significant relationship was found between impaired eating attitude and motor impulsivity and attention impulsivity. It was determined that as the severity of depression and anxiety increased in students, the prevalence of eating disorders increased. In addition, other factors related to eating attitude; the disease state that requires drug use, BMI, thought about weight problem, dieting status and showing risky behavior (p<0,05). With this study, it was aimed to follow a holistic approach in the treatment approach by revealing the relationship between eating attitude disorder, which is common in our country and in the world, and depression, anxiety and impulsivity. At the same time, by showing that there are no independent subjects, it is aimed to obtain data that will help the physicians and other relevant professional groups to manage the process better. The results obtained in this study are consistent with the results found in similar studies. Determining the relationship between eating attitude disorder and depression, anxiety, impulsivity and other influential factors and making interventions to treat young individuals as soon as possible and in the most appropriate way, especially in the early period, will play an important role in preventing many negativities both in terms of public health and individual health and health costs. In addition, it has been predicted that family physicians who have the most important role in public and individual health and have the necessary equipment will be useful in raising their awareness on this issue.