The Intuitive Eating Diet Quality of Children Living Separately from Their Parents

Importance of Nutrition

As human life progresses, eating habits undergo rapid changes from infancy to school age. The relationship between emotional state and eating behavior has been extensively studied by scientists throughout this developmental process. The function of nutrition and eating behavior, essential for the continuation of human life, not only provides a sense of happiness but can also lead to health issues that arise over time due to overeating or inadequate nutrition. Psychological and emotional factors, among others, can influence an individual's psychological characteristics, eating habits, and weight control. This impact is not limited to individuals who are obese or overweight; it can also be observed in many other individuals.

In recent times, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of awareness in eating habits for individuals to recognize their varying emotional states and cope with them. Additionally, cognitive restrictions can negatively affect individuals' body weight and eating habits. Especially when daily stresses cannot be managed, and different diet methods are attempted over an extended period, incorrect eating habits can emerge.

Eating behavior related to emotional state can be referred to as "emotional eating." Food choices resulting from changes in emotions, increased meal frequency, and alterations in the quantity of food consumed are distinct from physiological needs. People's eating habits can vary according to emotional states such as joy, anger, sadness, depression, anxiety, and other emotional conditions.

However, providing a general explanation for these relationships is not possible since the connection between eating tendencies and emotional state can vary based on individual characteristics. According to obtained data, particularly negative emotions can affect eating tendencies in different ways; some individuals may decrease their food intake, while others may increase it. A study indicates that individuals tend to eat more than usual when experiencing conditions such as depression, distress, and fatigue, while food consumption is reduced during situations of tension, fear, and pain.

The most complex emotional changes in human life occur during adolescence. Adolescence is a transitional period from childhood to adulthood. This phase encompasses physical growth, sexual maturation, and an extended period of psychosocial development.

Adolescents experience a range of emotional states during this period, including not only positive emotions like happiness and love but also fear (related to tangible objects, social relationships, self-perception, and the unknown), phobias (heights, social anxiety, blood, open spaces), anger, and anxiety. Learning and controlling healthy eating behaviors, developing awareness of eating habits, and acquiring intuitive eating skills play a crucial role in managing body composition, weight, and treating eating disorders.

Nutrition in Adolescence

In order to maintain and improve health, weight loss is necessary for obese individuals. In obesity treatment, health professionals aim to achieve initial weight loss through diet and exercise programs. When assessing the long-term effects of these treatments, the concept of "intuitive eating" becomes significant. Intuitive eating represents the principle of basing nutritional guidelines on physiological hunger and satiety signals and is associated with mental and physical well-being.

Emphasizing the importance of eating habits and reducing the sensitivity of consumed foods to emotional influences highlights the significance of making healthier food choices.

Children experiencing emotional deprivation, separation from parents, and a lack of a healthy family environment may resort to focusing on eating behavior as a way to fill the void they feel. However, this attempt is merely covering the surface of a deeply rooted issue with temporary solutions.

My undergraduate thesis conducted in 2021 at Samsun 19 May University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition Sciences, provided valuable insights into children who live apart from their parents and experience intuitive/emotional eating disorders. The results obtained contribute to a deeper understanding of the eating habits and psychological conditions of this particular group. The findings are as follows:

• The continuous existence of a healthy society relies on the presence of children, who are the fundamental building blocks of the community.
• Protecting the physical and mental health of our children is contingent upon the establishment of regular, healthy eating habits.
• Proper and balanced nutrition is predicated on the development of healthy eating habits and positive eating behaviors.

In this context:

• In cases where family and parental education, which constitute a fundamental element in shaping physical and mental health, are insufficient, there is a higher likelihood of observing certain eating disorders among children.
• In situations where this risk is not mitigated, more extensive societal issues can emerge.
• Especially for children at a higher risk for eating disorders, increasing the number of specialized dietitians who can help address this problem is vital in relevant institutions, schools where children receive their fundamental education, and family healthcare centers to bridge the knowledge gap in child education for family members. This effort could yield benefits for both individuals and society as a whole.