SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 17 Sayı: 2

Evaluating the Relationship Between Individual’s Depression, Emotional Eating Behavior and Anthropometric Measurements: Cross-sectional Study

Bireylerin Depresyon, Duygusal Yeme Davranışı ve Antropometrik Ölçümler Arasındaki İlişkinin Değerlendirilmesi: Kesitsel Çalışma

Şeymanur Bilici(Haliç University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Istanbul, Turkey)0000-0003-4318-122X
Çiğdem Yıldırım(Haliç University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics)0000-0002-5442-5851
Berrak Baştürk(Haliç University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics)0000-0001-6817-3141
Pages
214–226
Publication Date
2026-08-24
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

A positive correlation has been identified between emotional eating and depression, indicating that as cognitive restraint scores increase, individuals' BMI values also increase.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The relationship between depression and emotional eating behavior has been identified, indicating that individuals experiencing these conditions tend to consume higher-energy foods and have a higher body mass index.
📊
Key Findings & Data:This study was designed and conducted to assess the relationship between emotional eating behavior, depression status, and anthropometric measurements of a total of 80 adult participants (62 women and 18 men).The participant’s demographic characteristics, dietary habits, and anthropometric measurement information were assessed through a questionnaire, the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21), Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EMAQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and retrospective 24-hour dietary recall records.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:A positive correlation has been identified between emotional eating and depression, indicating that as cognitive restraint scores increase, individuals' BMI values also increase.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Antropometrik Ölçüm · Depresyon · Duygusal Yeme

Abstract

The relationship between depression and emotional eating behavior has been identified, indicating that individuals experiencing these conditions tend to consume higher-energy foods and have a higher body mass index. This study was designed and conducted to assess the relationship between emotional eating behavior, depression status, and anthropometric measurements of a total of 80 adult participants (62 women and 18 men).The participant’s demographic characteristics, dietary habits, and anthropometric measurement information were assessed through a questionnaire, the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21), Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EMAQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and retrospective 24-hour dietary recall records. The study found that depression scores were higher in women compared to men (p<0.05). Participants with irregular sleep patterns were found to have higher levels of depression compared to those without. When examining the relationship between TFEQ-R21 scores and anthropometric measurements, a significant association was observed with weight, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, BMI, and body fat quantity. In the relationship between food consumption and TFEQ-R21, a positive correlation was found between energy intake and emotional eating scores in men (p<0.05). A positive correlation has been identified between emotional eating and depression, indicating that as cognitive restraint scores increase, individuals' BMI values also increase.

Özet

Depresyon ile duygusal yeme davranışı arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesi, bu durumları yaşayan bireylerin daha yüksek enerjili gıdalar tüketme eğiliminde olduklarını ve daha yüksek vücut kütle indeksine sahip olduklarını göstermektedir. Katılımcının demografik özellikleri, beslenme alışkanlıkları ve antropometrik ölçüm bilgileri, Üç Faktörlü Yeme Anketi (TFEQ-R21), Duygusal İştah Anketi (EMAQ), Beck Depresyon Envanteri (BDI) ve geriye dönük 24 saatlik diyet hatırlama kayıtları aracılığıyla değerlendirildi. Araştırmada kadınlarda depresyon puanlarının erkeklere göre daha yüksek olduğu belirlendi (p<0,05). Düzensiz uyku düzenine sahip katılımcıların, olmayanlara göre daha yüksek düzeyde depresyona sahip olduğu görüldü. TFEQ-R21 puanları ile antropometrik ölçümler arasındaki ilişki incelendiğinde kilo, bel çevresi, bel-kalça oranı, BMI ve vücut yağ miktarı ile anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu görüldü. Besin tüketimi ile TFEQ-R21 arasındaki ilişkide erkeklerde enerji alımı ile duygusal yeme puanları arasında pozitif korelasyon bulundu (p<0,05). Duygusal yeme ile depresyon arasında pozitif bir ilişki tespit edilmiş olup, bilişsel kısıtlama puanları arttıkça bireylerin BMI değerlerinin de arttığını göstermektedir. Bu çalışmanın kısıtlılığı örneklemin küçük olması ve katılımcıların yalnızca 24 saatlik geriye dönük gıda tüketim kayıtlarının elde edilmiş olmasıdır. Gelecekte benzer çalışmaların daha büyük örneklemlerle yapılması ve gıda tüketim kayıt süresinin arttırılması, çalışma değişkenliği arasındaki ilişkinin daha net belirlenmesine katkı sağlayacaktır.

🔖

Cite This Article

Bilici, Ş., Yıldırım, Ç., Baştürk, B. (2026). Evaluating the Relationship Between Individual’s Depression, Emotional Eating Behavior and Anthropometric Measurements: Cross-sectional Study. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, Cilt: 17 Sayı: 2, 214–226. https://doi.org/10.22312/sdusbed.1639733

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (34)

  1. World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. Depression [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2026 Mar 6]. Available from: https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/333464
  2. Koyu EB, Demirel ZB. Depresyon ve D vitamini. Beslenme ve Diyet Dergisi. 2015;43(2):160–165. Available from: https://www.beslenmevediyetdergisi.org/index.php/bdd/article/view/140
  3. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Washington (DC): American Psychiatric Association; 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
  4. Frayn M, Knäuper B. Emotional eating and weight in adults: a review. Curr Psychol. 2017;37(4):924–933. doi:10.1007/s12144-017-9577-9
  5. İnalkaç S, Arslantaş H. Duygusal yeme. Arşiv Kaynak Tarama Dergisi. 2018;27(1):70–82. doi:10.17827/aktd.336860
  6. Madalı B, Alkan ŞB, Örs ED, Ayrancı M, Taşkın H, Kara HH. Emotional eating behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2021;46:264. doi:10.1016/j.clnesp.2021.09.745
  7. Warren A, Frame LA. Restoring a healthy relationship with food by decoupling stress and eating: a translational review of nutrition and mental health. Nutrients. 2025;17(15):2466. doi:10.3390/nu17152466
  8. Fan R, Kong J, Xie Y. Potential regulatory role of appetite-regulating hormones and exercise associated with emotional eating: a narrative review. Lifespan Dev Ment Health. 2025;1(1):10001. doi:10.70322/ldmh.2025.10001
  9. Clum GA, Rice JC, Broussard M, Johnson CC, Webber LS. Associations between depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, eating styles, exercise and body mass index in women. J Behav Med. 2014;37(4):577–586. doi:10.1007/s10865-013-9526-5
  10. Lazarevich I, Irigoyen Camacho ME, Velázquez-Alva MC, Zepeda Zepeda M. Relationship among obesity, depression, and emotional eating in young adults. Appetite. 2016;107:639–644. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2016.09.011
  11. Süt N, Ajredani M, Koçak Z. Importance of sample size calculation and power analysis in scientific studies: an example from the Balkan Medical Journal. Balkan Med J. 2022;39(6):384. doi:10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2022.31102022
  12. World Health Organization. Waist circumference and waist–hip ratio: report of a WHO expert consultation. Geneva: WHO; 2011.
  13. Stunkard AJ, Messick S. The three-factor eating questionnaire to measure dietary restraint, disinhibition and hunger. J Psychosom Res. 1985;29(1):71–83. doi:10.1016/0022-3999(85)90010-8
  14. Karakuş SŞ, Yıldırım H, Büyüköztürk Ş. Üç faktörlü yeme ölçeğinin Türk kültürüne uyarlanması: geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması. TAF Prev Med Bull. 2016;15(3):229–237. doi:10.5455/pmb.1-1446540396
  15. Nolan LJ, Halperin LB, Geliebter A. Emotional Appetite Questionnaire: construct validity and relationship with BMI. Appetite. 2010;54(2):314–319. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2009.12.004
  16. Demirel B, Yavuz KF, Karadere ME, Şafak Y, Türkçapar MH. The Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EMAQ)'s reliability and validity and relationship with body mass index and emotional schemas. J Cogn Behav Psychother Res. 2014;3(3):171.
  17. Beck AT, Ward CH, Mendelson M, Mock J, Erbaugh J. An inventory for measuring depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1961;4(6):561–571. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1961.01710120031004
  18. Beck Depression Inventory [Internet]. [cited 2026 Mar 6]. Available from: https://toad.halileksi.net/olcek/beck-depresyon-envanteri/
  19. Türkiye Beslenme Rehberi (TÜBER) 2022 [Internet]. [cited 2026 Mar 6]. Available from: https://hsgm.saglik.gov.tr/depo/birimler/saglikli-beslenme-ve-hareketli-hayat-db/Dokumanlar/Rehberler/Turkiye_Beslenme_Rehber_TUBER_2022_min.pdf
  20. Caner C, Can A, Yüceer M. Lifestyle and eating behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in Turkey. Discover Public Health. 2025;22(1):580. doi:10.1186/s12982-025-00966-z
  21. Pengpid S, Peltzer K. Skipping breakfast and its association with health risk behaviour and mental health among university students in 28 countries. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2020;13:2889–2897. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S241670
  22. Karaca Çelik KE, Morales-Suárez-Varela M, Uçar N, Soriano JM, İnce Palamutoğlu M, Baş M, et al. Obesity prevalence, nutritional status, and physical activity levels in Turkish adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Nutr. 2024;11:1438054. doi:10.3389/fnut.2024.1438054
  23. Halk Sağlığı Genel Müdürlüğü. Turkey nutrition and health survey 2017 factsheet [Internet]. [cited 2026 Mar 6]. Available from: https://hsgm.saglik.gov.tr/tr/component/weblinks/weblink/797-turkey-nutrition-and-health-survey-2017-factsheet.html
  24. Noğay N. The role of psychological eating styles in obesity among Turkish adolescents: a cross-sectional study. J Pak Med Assoc. 2017;67(4).
  25. Van de Velde S, Bracke P, Levecque K. Gender differences in depression in 23 European countries: cross-national variation in the gender gap in depression. Soc Sci Med. 2010;71(2):305–313. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.03.035
  26. Kudret M, Nişancı Kılınç F. Determination of the relationship between eating behavior patterns and biochemical parameters among individuals attending a diet outpatient clinic. In: Proceedings of the 4th International Congress on Nutrition, Obesity and Public Health; 24–25 December 2020; Istanbul, Türkiye. 2020. p. 256–261. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.26849.43361
  27. Taş E, Kabaran S. Intuitive eating, emotional eating and depression: do they have impacts on anthropometric measurements. Health and Society. 2020; 20, 127-39.
  28. Anglé S, Engblom J, Eriksson T, Kautiainen S, Saha MT, Lindfors P, et al. Three-factor eating questionnaire-R18 as a measure of cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating in a sample of young Finnish females. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2009;6:41. doi:10.1186/1479-5868-6-41
  29. İner Köksal U, Ertürk Z, Köksal AR, Özşenel EB, Harmankaya Kaptanoğulları O. What is the importance of body composition in obesity-related depression? Eurasian J Med. 2017;49(2):102–106. doi:10.5152/eurasianjmed.2017.16129
  30. Jokela M, Laakasuo M. Obesity as a causal risk factor for depression: systematic review and meta-analysis of Mendelian randomization studies and implications for population mental health. J Psychiatr Res. 2023;163:86–92. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.05.034
  31. Öngün Yılmaz H, Köse G. How does emotional appetite and depression affect BMI and food consumption? Prog Nutr. 2020;22(4):e2020088. doi:10.23751/pn.v22i4.10750
  32. Barta SB, Helvacı G, Uçar A. Association between emotional eating, depressive symptoms, and body weight: a comparative cross-sectional study. Nutr Clin Métab. 2025;26(1):103021. doi:10.1016/j.nupar.2025.11.005
  33. Metin ZE, Bayrak N, Mengi Çelik Ö, Akkoca M. The relationship between emotional eating, mindful eating, and depression in young adults. Food Sci Nutr. 2025;13(1):e4028. doi:10.1002/fsn3.4028
  34. Yassıbaş E, Yeşildemir Ö. Evaluation of the relationship between depression, emotional appetite, and mindful eating in university students. Beslenme ve Diyet Dergisi. 2022;50(2):56–65. doi:10.33076/2022.bdd.1643