Relationships between Eating Behaviors with Anthropometric Indices and Perceived Stress in Working Women.

Background and Objectives: In recent decades, significant increases in the prevalence of obesity in developing and developed countries suggest that obesity is a complex health problem. Environmental factors such as lack of physical activity, excessive TV watching and sedentary lifestyle, consumption of high-calorie foods and side effects of various drugs can cause overweight and obesity. Obesity is associated with severe health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, asthma, arthritis and decreased life expectancy. Obesity includes profound effects on people's mental health. This study assessed relationships between anthropometric indices and perceived stress levels in working women. Materials and Methods: After ethics committee approval from Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, 395 healthy women between 20 and 50 years old participated in the study. Women who worked at Iran University of Medical Sciences completed questionnaires including general information and assessment of the participants' statuses of eating behaviors. Anthropometric variables, including height, weight, body fat percentage and waist and hip circumferences, were measured and body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio were calculated. Then, each participant completed questionnaires of perceived stress, 24-h food recall and physical activity. Results: Anthropometric indices (weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference and hip circumference) were reported lower in people who ate breakfast than those who did not. Waist-to-hip ratio was lower in those with a slower eating speed than those of the fast group (p = 0.034). Weight, body mass index and body fat percentage were significantly higher in those eating during screen watch. No significant relationships were reported between the eating behaviors (speed rate, breakfast or not eating breakfast and eating with or without screen watch) and perceived stress levels. Anthropometric indices increased with increasing food intakes (p < 0.001) and decreasing physical activities, while no relationships were reported between dietary intakes and physical activities with perceived stress levels. Conclusions: Dietary behaviors and physical activities affect anthropometric indices, while perceived stress levels do not affect dietary behaviors or anthropometric indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]