Are premenstrual syndrome and aggression related to body mass index in adolescents?

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the relationship between premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and aggression during adolescence with body mass index (BMI), which is a topic not yet investigated in the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,450 adolescents aged 12-18 years, who applied to the Pediatric Adolescent Outpatient Clinic and voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. Anthropometric measurements of the adolescents were taken and the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale and Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire were administered to the adolescents. It was discovered that all the adolescents participating in the study had PMS. RESULTS: It was determined that as the levels of PMS were elevated, physical aggression, hostility, anger and verbal aggression gradually increased. Additionally, this increase was statistically significant (p<0.001). It was further discovered that there were statistically significant differences between the BMI classifications of the adolescents and PMS, physical aggression, hostility, anger and verbal aggression statuses (p<0.001). Accordingly, it was determined that as the BMI values of the adolescents increased, PMS and aggressive attitude levels increased. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first in the literature to examine the relationship between PMS and aggression, and BMI in adolescents. Within this framework, it was determined that PMS frequency and aggression levels were high in overweight/obese adolescents. Accordingly, it is predicted that both PMS and aggression levels can decrease with healthy body weight in adolescents.

Orthorexia and eating attitudes in health sciences students.

Background: The prevalence of eating disorders and orthorexia nervosa has steadily increased and this situation may lead to severe physical, psychological, and social disorders. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of disordered eating attitudes and orthorexia tendencies among university students studying in various Health Sciences departments in Turkey. Subjects and Methods: The study subjects were selected from Health Sciences Faculty students. Among the students who accepted the study, 639 people were reached by simple random sampling method. The EAT-40 and ORTO-15 which are validated instruments for the screening of abnormal eating behaviors and orthorexia nervosa respectively, were used as measurement tools. Results: The majority of the students who participated in the study were found to exhibit orthorexic tendencies, and male students had a higher orthorexic tendency in comparison to female students (p = 0.022). More specifically, the students studying in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics had lower orthorexic tendencies compared with the students from other departments. There was no significant relationship between BMI values and the mean ORTO-15 scores, whereas the mean EAT-40 score was found to increase statistically significantly with increased BMI (p = 0.038). There was a statistically significant difference between the departments and classes in terms of mean EAT-40 scores, whereas no difference was found regarding gender. Conclusion: Orthorexia nervosa is a common problem for university students studying in health-related departments. Interestingly, the orthorexic tendencies of girls and students studying in the Nutrition and Dietetics department were found to be lower in this study. It was determined that all students except the Nutrition and Dietetics department had orthorexia tendencies. More comprehensive studies are needed to better understand orthorexia nervosa and healthy lifestyle interaction.

Determination of ecologically sensitive areas in Denizli province using geographic information systems (GIS) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP).

Ecological sensitivity is defined as the ecosystem's reaction to environmental change caused by internal and external factors. The degree of ecological sensitivity varies in spatial dimension depending on the natural and cultural features. Ecological sensitivity analysis is based on basis of mapping these differences. As a result of the analysis, an important data that can be a base for spatial plans at different scales is provided. In accordance with this aim, Denizli province was selected for the study area in this research. The factors affecting sensitivity were determined by the literature survey, which was conducted by considering the characteristics of the study area. In this context, elevation, slope, aspect, the proximity to water surface, land cover, and vegetation coverage were evaluated as natural factors, and the proximity to primary traffic roads and residential areas as cultural factors. Each factor was spatially grouped by means of geographic information systems (GIS) according to the degree of impact on ecological sensitivity. Scale 1 (lowest ecological sensitivity) to 5 (highest ecological sensitivity) was used for the spatial grouping. A analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was applied to weight the factors. The overlay method was used in line with the weighted scores in order to determine the composite ecological sensitivity. As a result of the study, the area of 286.26 sq km (2.37%) as highly and more sensitive, 5267.47 sq km (43.50%) as moderately sensitive, and 6554.56 sq km (54.13%) as mildly and less sensitive was determined. In line with the results, suggestions for protection-utilization balance were developed.