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- MakaleAçık Erişim2026Scopus SJRQ1Relationship between food insecurity, intuitive eating, and body mass index among adults: a cross-sectional study in Türkiye
Ünal, G.; Esgin, Özge
This study examined the relationship between food insecurity, intuitive eating, and body mass index among adults. This cross-sectional study was conducted through face-to-face interviews between January and March 2025 at a public university in Türkiye, involving 1166 students and personnel (65.7 % women; age range: 19–64 years). Participants answered the Food Insecurity Experience Scale and the Intuitive Eating Scale-2, which has four subdimensions: unconditional permission to eat, eating for physical rather than emotional reasons, reliance on hunger and satiety cues, and body-food choice congruence. Self-reported body weight and height were collected to calculate body mass index. Food insecurity was experienced by 42.7 % of participants. It was associated with lower total Intuitive Eating Scale-2, reliance on hunger and satiety cues, body-food choice congruence (controlled for sex, institutional role, and age), and eating for physical rather than emotional reasons (controlled for sex and institutional role) scores. Sex was not a moderator of the association between food insecurity and intuitive eating. There were no significant interactions between Intuitive Eating Scale-2 total and subdimensions and food security status for body mass index. Overall, our study provides empirical evidence that food insecurity is a significant factor that contributes to low levels of intuitive eating in a large sample of Turkish adults. Further studies should investigate the moderating effect of sex on the association between food insecurity and intuitive eating, while also emphasizing the role of food insecurity in the relationship between intuitive eating habits and body mass index in different populations.
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İncele - MakaleYalnız künye2026Scopus SJRQ1Evening chronotype and highly processed food consumption: The mediating role of intuitive eating
Esgin, Özge; Ünal, G.
This study examined associations among chronotype, intuitive eating, and highly processed food (HPF) consumption and evaluated the mediating role of intuitive eating, with sex as a potential moderator. This cross-sectional study, conducted via an online survey in Türkiye from October 2025 to January 2026, included 610 adults. Participants completed the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), the Intuitive Eating Scale–2 (IES–2), and the Screening Questionnaire of HPF Consumption. The IES–2 comprises four dimensions: unconditional permission to eat (UPE), eating for physical rather than emotional reasons (EPR), reliance on hunger and satiety cues, and body-food choice congruence (B-FCC). Among participants, 20.3% had an evening chronotype, and 68% reported high HPF consumption. Eveningness was associated with higher UPE (β = 0.219, p = 0.002) and EPR (β = 0.148, p = 0.032) and lower B-FCC (β = −0.225, p = 0.002); however, a sex difference emerged only for EPR, with a weaker association in women (β = −0.155, p = 0.029). Lower MEQ scores were significantly associated with higher HPF consumption (β = −0.212, p < 0.001), with no significant sex differences. All analyses were adjusted for age and body mass index. Mediation analyses indicated that UPE (indirect effect: −0.013 for women; −0.022 for men) and B-FCC (−0.006 for women; −0.013 for men) had significant indirect effects linking chronotype to HPF consumption, with no moderating effect of sex. These findings suggest that intuitive eating mechanisms may partly explain the association between evening chronotype and higher HPF consumption.
- MakaleYalnız künye2026Scopus SJRQ2Evaluation of post-traumatic stress disorder and food insecurity in earthquake survivors
Köktürk, Seda Nur; Esgin, Özge; Bulbul, Ali Savas; Sahin, Engin
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the psychological difficulties and challenges related to food insecurity following the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş province on February 6, 2023, particularly examining the relationship between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and food insecurity among survivors. Subjects and methods: The research included 504 adults (71.4% female). The study assessed the subcomponents of food insecurity and measured PTSD levels among participants. It also evaluated the prevalence of Gastrointestinal System (GIS) issues and appetite loss. Results: Individuals facing food insecurity exhibited higher median PTSD scores compared to those not experiencing food insecurity. A significant majority of individuals with PTSD (90.2%) also encountered GIS issues, with a notable prevalence of appetite loss. GIS problems were common among those experiencing food insecurity. Conclusion: Many disaster victims endure both food insecurity and PTSD, negatively impacting their dietary habits and health. Providing clean, dependable, and nutritious food post-disaster can reduce health risks. Psychological support and therapy for PTSD can aid recovery. More detailed studies on nutritional status are needed for deeper insights.
AtıfScopus2WoS3OpenAlex4İncele - MakaleAçık Erişim2025Scopus SJRQ1Cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Turkish MIND diet adherence scale for young adults
Esgin, Özge; Aslan Çin, Nazlı Nur; Kaplan, Özlem Nur; Baratzada, Leeda; Özçelik, Ayşe Özfer
Background: The MIND diet, which promotes brain health, has a potential role in preventing cognitive decline. To further establish its applicability, it is essential to validate the MIND Diet Adherence Scale in different populations with diverse dietary habits, including Turkish young adults. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the construct validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the Turkish version of the MIND diet assessment tool in the Turkish population. Methods: A total of 310 individuals aged between 19 and 39 (mean age 25.0 ± 5.1) voluntarily participated in this study. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, incorporating socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, the MIND Diet Adherence Scale, and the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale. Both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the MIND Dietary Adherence Scale were performed. In the CFA, the goodness of fit of the hypothesized model to the observed data was evaluated using a range of fit indices. Results: The study determined an adequate sample size (KMO = 0.67), with sufficient item correlations for factor analysis (χ2 = 449.74; p < 0.001). Confirmatory factor analysis and goodness-of-fit indicators supported the fit of the two-factor model to the Turkish data. The Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency coefficient for the MIND Diet Adherence Scale was 0.61. All items in the scale exhibited a positive correlation with the total score, exceeding 0.40. Furthermore, a substantial positive correlation was observed between the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale and the MIND Diet Adherence Scale. Conclusions: The Turkish adaptation of the MIND Diet Adherence Scale can be utilized in its entirety, without the need to remove any items. This study affirms that the MIND Diet Adherence Scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool for assessing dietary habits in Turkish society.
AtıfScopus3WoS3OpenAlex2İncele - MakaleAçık Erişim2025Scopus SJRQ2Mind diet adherence associated with lower Zonulin levels in older Parkinson's patients
Esgin, Özge; Tokçaer Bora, Hatice Ayşe; Gülbahar, Özlem; Demirkesen, Özlem Cemile; Ataoğlu, Nigar Esra Erkoç; Söke, Fatih; Özçelik, Ayşe Özfer
Aim: This study investigates the association between adherence to the MIND diet and serum zonulin levels in older adults with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: Data were collected through structured survey forms and blood samples. The survey assessed general information, 24-hour food recalls, anthropometric measurements, the MIND diet adherence and physical activity levels. Zonulin levels were analysed from blood samples. Results: The study included 57 older adults with PD in stages 1–3 on the Hoehn & Yahr scale (29 women, 28 men; mean age 70.2 ± 4.6 years). Zonulin levels were negatively correlated with dietary total antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05). In adjusted analyses, higher adherence to the MIND diet was associated with lower zonulin levels (β = −0.25). Conclusions: These findings suggest a novel link between adherence to the MIND diet and reduced zonulin levels. MIND diet could have potential benefits for neurological function and intestinal barrier integrity.
- MakaleYalnız künye2022Scopus SJRQ3The Importance of Nutrition and a Balanced Diet in the Elderly during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Esgin, Özge; Erten, Tayyibe
Background: Age is an important risk factor for the mortality rate in the COVID-19 disease, and mostly, hospitalised patients over 60 years with chronic diseases are at high risk of death due to this disease. Along with preventive measures, proper nutrient intake might be helpful in maintaining a healthy state or reduce the severity of the COVID-19 disease in the elderly. Methods: The search was carried out in the PubMed, Scopus, Medline, Google Scholar and Web of Science using the following terms: COVID-19, coronavirus, elderly, elderly nutrition. Results: The requirement for some macro and micronutrients, especially the nutrients that support the immune activity, increases in this disease. During the pandemic, the daily energy requirement for the elderly is 27-30 kcal/kg, while the protein intake is at least 1g/kg, and the ratio of fat and carbohydrate is 30:70 or less than 50:50. The daily intake of vitamin A, B6, B12, C, D, zinc and selenium can also be increased due to their supporting function in the immune system. Probiotics include Bifidobacterium longum MM-2, Lactobacillus plantarum 06CC2, Lactobacillus bulgaricus OLL1073R-1 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus M21, and the consumption of prebiotics in diet enhances the immune function. Additionally, flavonoids, such as baicalin, epigallocatechin gallate, gallocatechin gallate, kaempferol, luteolin, resveratrol and quercetin, improve immunity by reducing oxidative stress in the elderly. Conclusion: Adequate and balanced nutrition diet should be applied during the pandemic; in addition to this, micronutrient deficiencies should also be overcome in the elderly at every stage of life. Nuron&The novel coronavirus, called SARS-CoV2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus-2), emerged at the end of 2019 in China and was announced as a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on March 11th, 2020 [1]. It has spread more rapidly than previous coronavirus outbreaks, such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus); thus, it has affected most countries [2, 3]. By August 2021, WHO reported globally 206.958.371 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 4.357.179 deaths [4]. Since SARS-CoV-2 enters the cells through angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), it binds to the ACE2 membrane of alveolar epithelial cells and attacks firstly the respiratory system [5].
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