The Relationship Between Eating Behaviors and Learned Helplessness among the People with Overweight and Affected by Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Aim: Obesity is a significant public health problem that increasingly concerns the world. Overweight and obese people often cannot control their eating behaviors. Although these people use diet, exercise and weight loss programs, their inability to prevent these behaviors also affects their psychological state. This may lead to learned helplessness. This cross-sectional study was designed to determine the relationship between eating behaviors and learned helplessness in overweight and obese people. Material and Methods:One hundred and fifty-eight overweight and obese people were included in the study. In the data collection process, a Personal Information Form, the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire and the Rosenbaum Learned Resourcefulness Scale were utilized. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were used to analyze the data.Results: A statistically significant relationship was determined between the eating behaviors of the participants and their angry mood and learned helplessness levels. There was no statistically significant relationship between eating behavior dimensions and learned helplessness. Conclusion:As a result, the relationship between appetite and angry mood affects the eating behaviors of overweight and obese people and increases their learned helplessness. Cognitive and behavioral interventions could be recommended as a solution to this problem in preventing learned helplessness in overweight and obese people.

The Comparison of Food Addiction Rates and Characteristics Between Obese and Non-Obese Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…'Food addiction' is a concept of interest recently, and there is an increasing amount of research conducted on food addiction in the literature as it is considered a predisposing factor to obesity. The easy access to highly palatable food (high in fat, salt, and/or sugar) has contributed to the rise in the food addiction rate and obesity epidemic (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). Although the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying food addiction have not been revealed precisely, genetic factors are suggested to be effective (1).…”