Evaluation of the Relationship of Intuitive Eating Behaviour between Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference in University Students

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between intuitive eating behaviour, body mass index (BMI), and waist-hip circumference among university students. Methods: This study was conducted on 146 students studying at the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics of a foundation university on the European side of Istanbul in the 2020-2021 academic year. Socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and intuitive eating habits of the students were taken through an online questionnaire. Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) was used to determine students’ intuitive eating behaviour. Results: 146 students with a mean age of 20.64±1.69 participated in the study. 62.3% of the students were female and 37.7% were male. Intuitive eating scale total score mean ± standard deviation values ​​were found to be 3.40±0.55. BMI mean ± standard deviation values were found to be 21.89 ± 3.94 kg / m2 while waist circumference mean ± standard deviation values were 69.78±9.32 cm. eating due to physical rather than emotional causes sub-dimension has a positive and significant correlation with the eating sub-dimension related to hunger and fullness signals, body-food choice congruity, and intuitive eating scale-total score. There is a significant and positive relationship between the eating sub-dimension related to hunger and fullness signals and the body-food choice congruity sub-dimension and the total score of the intuitive eating scale. A significant and positive correlation was found between the body-food choice congruity sub-dimension and the total score of the intuitive eating scale. Comparing the intuitive eating scale total scores and sub-dimensions according to BMI groups, there is a significant difference in the mean score of the body-food choice congruity sub-dimension according to the BMI classification. Conclusion: As intuitive eating increases in university students, the body mass index decreases.