The Role of Hedonic Hunger as a Moderator and Mediator in Older Adults Obesity


Creative Commons License

METE B., KESKİN L., DEMİRHİNDİ H., KANAT ŞAHİN C., DOĞAN METE E., BAYRAM E.

European journal of geriatrics and gerontology (Online), cilt.12, sa.1, 2024 (Hakemli Dergi)

Özet

Objective: In the modern age, the pursuit of food is now a means of pleasure and of satisfying hunger. This study examined the role of hedonic hunger and eating behaviors on obesity in older adults. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 older adults. The nutrition information system (BeBiS), bioelectrical impedance analysis, power of food scale-Turkish version (PFS-Tr), and Dutch eating behaviour questionnaire (DEBQ) were used to evaluate the subjects. Results: The mean age of 400 people included in the study was 67.82±2.77 years. It was found that the moderator effect of the interaction of daily energy intake and hedonic hunger behaviour (PFS-Tr) on the waist-to-hip ratio was significant. In particular, the regulatory effect of low hedonic hunger scores (PFS-Tr) was significant (p=0.019) and the waist-to-hip ratio decreased as the scores obtained from the scale decreased. The mediator effect of the restrained eating (ResE) sub-dimension (DEBQ) between the average daily energy intake and body fat mass was significant (estimate =0.221, p=0.021), and an increase in ResE behavior scores resulted in an increase in body fat mass. It was found that 89.4% of the effect of ResE behaviour on body fat mass was direct and large. There was a weak positive correlation between the average daily energy intake and food available subscale of PFS-Tr (r=0.157) and food present subscale (r=0.017). Total daily energy intake had a direct effect on body fat mass (estimate =0.008, p=0.005). Conclusion: The results of our study support a positive relationship between hedonic hunger and abdominal obesity in older adults. Decreased ResE behaviour increases the whole-body fat mass. Evaluation of hunger and implementation of programmes that support ResE behaviour may be useful in controlling obesity and its negative consequences in older adults