Korean J Nutr.  2009 Sep;42(6):536-546. 10.4163/kjn.2009.42.6.536.

Relationship between Stress and Eating Habits of Adults in Ulsan

• Kim HK
• Kim JH

• KMID: 2267334
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4163/kjn.2009.42.6.536

Abstract

This study was done to investigate the effect of stress on appetite and eating habits, and other health-related behaviors. The subjects of this study consisted of 188 males and 224 females in Ulsan area. The results were as follows: When stressed, 56% (n = 231) of the subjects experienced a change in appetite and of these, 32% (n = 132) experienced an increased appetite. Stress-induced eating may be one factor contributing to the development of obesity. There was a gender-specific response to stress in which women are more likely to use food to deal with stress, whereas men are more likely to use alcohol consumption or smoking. It was found that types of stressors were individual (52.9%), social (50.7%), family relations (34.5%), work demands (34.2%) and physical environment (32.3%). Stress-induced symptoms of the subjects were anxiety (38.3%), headache (36.7%) and neck or shoulder aches (36.2%), and females experienced those symptoms more than males. Those older than 50 years had a higher eating habit score and lower stress score compared with younger subjects. There were significant differences between sex, age, occupation, family type, BMI, exercise, sleeping hours and eating habits or stress level. This study may be helpful in advancing findings in this area to better provide health professionals with appropriate counseling tools to improve the health of all individuals.

Keyword

stress; eating habits; stress-induced symptom; food preference; adults

MeSH Terms

Adult
Alcohol Drinking
Anxiety
Appetite
Counseling
Eating
Family Relations
Female
Food Preferences
Headache
Health Occupations
Humans
Male
Neck
Obesity
Occupations
Shoulder
Smoke
Smoking
Smoke

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