HASTANE ÇALIŞANLARINDA FAZLA KİLOLULUK/OBEZİTE İLE BAZI PSİKOSOSYAL ETKENLER VE YEME TUTUMU İLİŞKİSİ: VAKA KONTROL ÇALIŞMASI

Abstract

Duman, Ç.S., The Relationship Between Overweight/Obesity and Some Psychosocial Factors and Eating Attitudes in Hospital Employees: Case Control Study, Hacettepe University Graduate School of Health Sciences Epidemiology Program Master's Thesis, Ankara, 2024. The main purpose of this study is to examine whether eating attitudes, perceived stress and perceived social support are the main factors in the case of being overweight/obese in hospital workers and other possible factors. In addition, it is also aimed to evaluate the possible health consequences of overweight/obesity according to the frequency of complaints developed in the last week according to the statements of the individuals. The study is the first study to evaluate the relationship between overweight and obesity and eating attitudes and psychosocial characteristics in healthcare workers in Turkey. In this study, 149 overweight, 113 obese and 224 normal weight healthcare workers were interviewed. In the advanced analysis of the obese case group, 4 different models were created using the Logistic Regression Test with variables and the OR and confidence intervals of the selected model were evaluated according to the fit analysis between the models. Although it was not statistically significant, it was seen that males were 1.4 times more than females in the obese group compared to the control group (95% CI 0.73-2.67) (p=0.30). Compared with the control group, it was seen that obese people aged between 30-39 were 5.6 times more than those aged between 20-29 (95% CI 3.11-10.35; p<0.001). When the eating attitude variable investigated as the main effect in obese people was examined, it was seen that those with disturbed eating attitudes were 2.4 times more than those without disturbed eating attitudes (95% CI 1.05-5.70; p=0.037). It was found that among overweight workers, those with at most high school education were 1.6 times more than those with above high school education (OR= 1.6, 95% CI=1.04-2.73; p=0.034). Among obese healthcare workers, “members of other professions” were 5.1 times more than “members of healthcare professions” (95% CI=2.76-9.71; p<0.001); and 2.4 times (95% CI=1.27-4.70; p=0.001) in overweight people. When compared with the control group, it was seen that the household sizes of overweight and obese employees were higher than the control group (household size ≥5 was 16.5% in the control group, 18.1% in the overweight group, 27.4% in the obese group; p1=0.10, p2=<0.001) and it was found that an additional individual to the household size increased the probability of obesity by 1.4 times (95% CI=1.19-1.82; p<0.001). Although obesity is a health problem, obese hospital employees rated their general health status as good/very good. The fact that most of the overweight/obese employees have tried to lose weight at least once and still want to lose weight suggests that this is due to the importance they give to body image rather than their perception of health. In order to protect and develop the health workforce, it is important to include annual BMI monitoring in periodic screening programs of employees in line with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health. These programs should also include additional advanced examinations in order to detect possible health outcomes early, considering the additional health risks of obese employees.