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Journal of Public Health

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22-07-2022 | Obesity | Original Article

Effect of emotional eating and social media on nutritional behavior and obesity in university students who were receiving distance education due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Authors: Sevinç Eşer Durmaz, Alev Keser, Esra Tunçer

Published in: Journal of Public Health | Issue 10/2023

Abstract

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of emotional eating and social media on nutritional behavior and obesity in university students receiving distance education during the pandemic.

Subject and methods

This cross-sectional study was performed with 1000 undergraduate students who were receiving distance education due to COVID-19 in Türkiye. Data were collected using an online questionnaire that included demographic information, height, body weight, eating habits, the Scale of Effects of Social Media on Eating Behavior (SESMEB), and the Emotional Eating Scale (EES). A p value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant for statistical tests.

Results

During the distance education period, more than half of both male and female students (61.7%; 58.2%) changed their meal pattern, 31.7% of them started to consume their main meals more regularly, and 31.2% of them began to skip their main meals. Of the participants, 52.6% spent more than 2 hours a day on social media. The female students who spend more than 2 hours a day on social media have higher SESMEB and EES scores than those who spend 2 hours or less a day (p < 0.01). The score SESMEB is positively weakly correlated with body mass index (BMI) (rho 0.132, p < 0.01) and positively moderately associated with the EES score (rho 0.334, p < 0.01). The interaction between the SESMEB and EES scores increases the risk of overweight/obesity (odds ratio (OR) 1.002, p = 0.009).

Conclusion

For the students who received distance education, social media affects eating behavior, BMI, and emotional eating. Additionally, these effects may increase the risk of overweight/obesity.

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Title: Effect of emotional eating and social media on nutritional behavior and obesity in university students who were receiving distance education due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Sevinç Eşer Durmaz
Alev Keser
Esra Tunçer
Publication date: 22-07-2022
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Obesity
Obesity
COVID-19
Overweight
Published in: Journal of Public Health / Issue 10/2023
Print ISSN: 2198-1833
Electronic ISSN: 1613-2238
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-022-01735-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Effect of emotional eating and social media on nutritional behavior and obesity in university students who were receiving distance education due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Aim

Subject and methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Aim

Subject and methods

Results

Conclusion

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