The Relationship Between COVID-19 Anxiety Level and Emotional Eating in Individuals With Metabolic Syndrome

The aim was to determine the coronavirus anxiety levels and emotional eating status of cases with diagnosis of MetS according to diagnostic criteria published by the International Diabetic Federation (IDF) in 2005 and healthy individuals with similar BMI to MetS subjects. This study was completed with the descriptive, cross-sectional and relational screening model. The full sampling method was used in the study. The study was completed with 105 individuals with metabolic syndrome attending the diet clinic and 109 healthy individuals without MetS diagnosis also attending the diet clinic. Collection of data used anthropometric measurements and biochemical findings, blood pressure and a survey form, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) and Emotional Eating Scale (EES).

• A survey form was applied to individuals included in the study face-to-face. (Procedure), also known as This survey form, Biochemical findings (glucose, HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides, CRP, HbA1c, insulin, HOMA-IR)., Blood pressure was measured and recorded., The coronavirus anxiety scale (CAS) and emotional eating scale (EES) were applied.: This study was completed with a descriptive, cross-sectional and relational screening model

Primary outcomes

• Coronavirus anxiety scale (CAS) [5 month]: Total points of ≥9 on the scale shows dysfunctional anxiety related to coronavirus.
• Emotional eating scale (EES) [5 month.]: High points on the scale show high levels of emotional eating behavior.

Secondary outcomes

• BMI (Body Mass Index) [5 month.]: kg/m\^2
• Glucose [5 month.]: mg/dL
• Blood pressure [5 month.]: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure
• HDL [5 month.]: mg/dL
• LDL [5 month.]: mg/dL
• triglycerides [5 month.]: mg/dL
• HbA1c [5 month.]: HbA1c (%)
• insulin [5 month.]: ng/ml
• HOMA-IR [5 month.]: index
• total cholesterol [Through study completion, an average of 5 month.]: mg/dL
• CRP [5 month.]: mg/dL

Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to 70 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* The research included individuals aged 18 years and older, who were not pregnant or breastfeeding, without any psychological disorder diagnosed by psychiatry, without diagnosis of COVID-19 and not using any psychiatric medications. The MetS group for the research included individuals with metabolic syndrome diagnosis according to IDF-2005 diagnostic criteria. The non MetS group in the research included healthy individuals not using any psychiatric medications, without any chronic disorder, and with similar BMI to the individuals in the subject group.

Exclusion Criteria:

* The research included individuals aged 18 years and older, who were pregnant or breastfeeding, with psychological disorder diagnosed by psychiatry, with diagnosis of COVID-19 and using psychiatric medications.

• Zhang J, Zhang Y, Huo S, Ma Y, Ke Y, Wang P, Zhao A. Emotional Eating in Pregnant Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Association with Dietary Intake and Gestational Weight Gain. Nutrients. 2020 Jul 28;12(8):2250. doi: 10.3390/nu12082250. PMID 32731389

• Dilek Küçük Alemdar, Study director, Ordu University