Menstrual Siklus Fazlarının Hedonik Açlık, Besin Seçimi ve Aşırı Besin İsteği Üzerine Etkisinin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Candan E. Evaluatıon of The Effect of Menstrual Cycle Phases on Hedonıc Hunger, Food Choıce and Excessıve Food Desıre. Hacettepe University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Community Nutrition Programme, Master's Thesis, Ankara, 2023. Menstrual cycle is a series of physiological changes that occur in fertile women. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) occurs during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and causes clinically significant physical, behavioral and psychological symptoms, leading to impaired functional capacity. Increased food cravings and poor eating habits during some phases of the menstrual cycle (especially the luteal phase) and in the presence of PMS may lead to nutrient deficiencies, increased body weight and consequently increased risk of lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of menstrual cycle phases and the presence of PMS on hedonic hunger, food cravings and food choice. It was carried out with the participation of 150 university students aged 19-24 years. Anthropometric measurements of the participants were taken on the basis of declaration, and they were classified according to BMI and evaluated in 2 groups (normal and overweight-obese). Questions about menstruation and the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS) were administered to the participants during the first interview, and the questionnaire form including the Positive Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), Food Choice Test (FCT), Food Power Scale (PFS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Excessive Food Craving Scale (FCQ-T) and food consumption records were administered 3 times as follicular, ovulation and luteal phases by following the menstrual process of the individuals. According to the results of the study, women's intakes of energy and nutrients other than saturated fat do not differ significantly between the phases of the menstrual cycle (p>0.05). In the follicular (7.2±2.58) and luteal (7.5±2.29) phases, women's excessive food cravings for chocolate and chocolate products were higher in the ovulatory phase (6.6±2.61) (p=0.004). While the total and sub-factor scores of the FCT, PFS and FCQ-T did not differ significantly between menstrual cycle phases (p>0.05), the total and sub-factor scores of the PFS of individuals with PMS were higher than those of individuals without PMS. In the luteal phase, energy and vegetable protein intake of women differed significantly according to the presence of PMS (p<0.05). Although no significant differences were found in the study, it is predicted that menstrual cycle phases and PMS status may affect food intake and consequently weight control. It is thought that women should be made aware of this issue in order to manage the process and nutrition should be planned by taking menstrual cycle into consideration.