Eating Behavior of Students at the Technical University of Moldova during the Isolation Period

Rodica Siminiuc,Taiana Capcanari,Eugenia Covaliov,Dinu Țurcanu,Aurica Chirsanova,Vladislav Reșitca,Daniela Pojar

doi:10.4236/fns.2022.132011

Rodica Siminiuc, Taiana Capcanari + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/fns.2022.132011

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Abstract

Appetizing peculiarities are formed from childhood and can vary throughout life. Although they are conditioned by genetic factors, over time, the internal regulation of eating behaviors is reduced, being influenced by a complex interaction of various external factors. According to the Behavioral Susceptibility (BST) Theory of Obesity, Food Sensitivity in Response to Food Stimuli (such as Food Sight and Smell) and Satiety Responsiveness (i.e. the ability to adjust diet in response to internal feelings of satiety) contribute to individual differences in terms of energy intake and weight status. The present research intended to assess the eating patterns and behavior of Moldovan students, especially those from Technical University of Moldova during the social isolation imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted, based on the questionnaires (AEBQ—Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire), on a group of 602 students from Technical University of Moldova. Participation in the survey was entirely voluntary, did not involve any invasive procedure, nor did it induce changes in participants’ food patterns. The obtained results could contribute to the formation of the database for the study of the behavioral phenotype associated with the risk of obesity, but also for the study of eating behavior in crises. The questionnaire was distributed, in the form of a link, on the corporate emails of all TUM students. Respondents completed the questionnaire on the Google platform between 13.10.2021 - 25.11.2021, and the final database has been downloaded as a Microsoft Excel file. It was established a positive correlation between, Emotional Over-Eating and Emotional Under-Eating. Nervousness and anger were the most incriminating emotions of students that would cause both overeating and under eating. The results of the AEBQ questionnaire appear to be largely in line with previous studies, and the collected data present interest, in particular to prevent the risk of obesity.

Highlights

Peculiarities of eating behavior are formed from childhood and can vary throughout life
The obtained results could contribute to the formation of the database for the study of the behavioral phenotype associated with the risk of obesity, and for the study of eating behavior in crises
The results of the Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire (AEBQ) questionnaire appear to be largely in line with previous studies, and the collected data present interest, in particular to prevent the risk of obesity

Summary

Introduction

Peculiarities of eating behavior are formed from childhood and can vary throughout life. It is known that the genetic factor conditions the risk of obesity, as we age, the internal regulation of eating behaviors decreases, being influenced by a complex interaction of different external factors [1] [2] [3]. Stress and anxiety amplify each other’s influence on emotional adjustment strategies and eating behaviors, increasing the risk of overeating in vulnerable people [4]. It has been shown that loss of normal routine and reduced social and physical contact with others often lead to boredom, frustration, and a sense of isolation from the rest of the world [7]. Previous experiments have shown that in situations that cause low self-control and/or unhealthy cravings, participants with higher food retention eat more than those with lower retention [8] [14] [15]

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