Overweight and Obesity: Is there a Relationship with Eating Behaviour?

Abstract

Obesity is a non-infectious epidemic of the XXI century. The social significance of the problem of obesity is determined by the threat of disability of young patients and the reduction of overall life expectancy due to the frequent development of severe diseases. Eating behaviour disorders are the leading factors in the development of overweight and obesity. The purpose of the work was to determine the relationship between overweight and obesity with eating behaviour, taking into account the gender and age characteristics of patients. Material and methods. A survey of 272 people (136 men and 136 women) was conducted. The examined patients were divided into two clinical groups: I group included 90 people (45 women and 45 men) with excess weight (BMI = 27.7±1.31 kg / m2); Group II had 92 people (46 women and 46 men) with obesity of 1 degree (BMI = 31.74±1.03 kg / m2). Evaluation of eating disorders was carried out using the DEBQ questionnaire (Netherlands) adapted to the purpose of the study. Results and discussion. Eating behaviour disorders are one of the leading factors in the development of overweight and obesity: in overweight patients a healthy type of eating behaviour was recorded 4.86 times less often than in normal weight (D = 13.56, p = 2.35 e-14 <0.05), and in obese patients it was 7.14 times less often than in normal weight individuals (D = 21.04, p = 2.2e-16 <0.05). Overweight and obesity are most often associated with a restrictive type of eating behaviour: in overweight people they were met 4 times more often (D = 0.16, p-value = 4.637e-06 <0.05), and in obese patients disorders of the restrictive type of eating behaviour were 4.24 times more often compared to the control group (D = 0.15, p-value = 6.148e-07 <0.05). The type of eating behaviour in all clinical groups, except for body mass index, was influenced by gender and age of the subjects. Thus, in overweight men after the age of 45 a healthy type of eating behaviour occurred 8.09 times more often than in men under the age of 45 (D = 0.11, p-value = 0.03 <0.05) and in overweight women (D = 0.11, p-value = 0.03 <0.05). The relationship between the type of eating behaviour and gender and age characteristics of patients was found and confirmed by correlation analysis in all clinical groups. Conclusions. Healthy eating behaviour disorders are one of the leading factors in the development of overweight and obesity. Correction of eating disorders in obese people must be carried out taking into account the gender and age characteristics of the patient, to obtain positive results for a shorter course of treatment. Medical advice for women and young people, taking into account the prevalence of restrictive eating behaviour disorders, should be aimed at combating strict diets and periods of prolonged starvation; men and people over 45, taking into account the prevalence of external eating behaviour disorders, should follow a balanced diet. The duration of corrective treatment in obese women should be increased through psychotherapy