Psychosocial Stressors Affecting Food Choices

Cahit Erkul; Aliye Ozenoglu

doi:10.56479/ipeak.2023.12191

Authors

Cahit Erkul https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0940-1129
Aliye Ozenoglu https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3101-7342

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56479/ipeak.2023.12191

Keywords:

Food choice, Saturated fat, Health, Stress, Sugar

Abstract

Stress is defined as an individual's psychological and physical reaction to adapt to a mental or physical impact. When environmental stressors are added to a diet in which unhealthy food preferences are made, the negative effects of psychological stress on health are intensified. The food preferences of individuals are influenced by many factors including physiological, psychological, environmental, and sociocultural factors. The general tendency is that individuals who are exposed to stress reduce their intake of foods low in saturated fat and prefer to consume foods high in unhealthy fats in addition to healthy food groups. This study aims to comprehend the factors influencing individuals' dietary preferences, with a specific focus on delving deeper into how stress intricately affects these choices. Future research should focus on gaining a more comprehensive understanding of this intricate relationship, with the aim of revealing the effects of stress on eating habits in greater detail and contributing to more effectively guiding individuals towards healthier lifestyles.

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