The relationship between hedonic hunger and self-stigmatisation in terms of weight and self-esteem in adult people living with obesity.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to determine the factors influencing the hedonic hunger status of overweight adults and to examine the relationship between hedonic hunger, self-stigmatisation and self-esteem in terms of weight. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 353 people living with obesity who applied to the Endocrine and Internal Medicine Clinic in Samsun, Turkey, between June and October 2022. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Power of Food Scale (PFS), Weight Self-Stigmatisation Questionnaire (WSSQ) and Self-Liking/Self-Competence Scale (SLSC) through face-to-face survey method. RESULTS: About 53.3% of the participants were ≥45 years old, 80.5% were married and 69.1% had previously followed weight loss diet. It was found that those who were aged <45 years, single, those who perceived themselves as overweight, those who had used weight loss diets before and those whose waist-hip ratio were normal had higher hedonic hunger scores (p < 0.05). A negative and significant correlation was found between PSF-Tr general dimension scores and SLSC general dimension, whereas a significant and positive correlation was observed between PSF-Tr general dimension scores and WSSQ general dimension (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: As hedonic hunger increased in adults with overweight, self-esteem decreased, and self-stigmatisation in terms of weight increased. Effective interventions are needed to cope with the hedonic hunger that contributes to obesity and to prevent the stigma and low self-esteem experienced by people living with obesity because of their excess weight.

Long-term effects of air pollutants on deaths in a semi-urban city in Northwestern Turkey: a time series analysis.

To examine the associations between daily variations of coarse Particulate Matter(PM10) and/or sulfur dioxide(SO2) and mortality. The Poisson Generalized Linear Model(GLM) was employed to analyze the relationship between ambient air pollutants such as PM10 and SO2 and mortality. For each 10 µg/m3 increase in PM10, the overall mortality risk was found to be 1.022-fold high on the previous-eighth-day(lag 7) (RR, 95%CI:1.002-1.042) in the unadjusted model; 1.031-fold high in men (RR, 95%CI:1.005-1.058); 1.024-fold high in those aged 65 and over (RR, 95%CI:1.001-1.048). Also, the risk of death in men was 1.028-fold high in the model adjusted on the previous- eighth-day(lag 7) (RR, 95%CI:1.002-1.055). Mortality risk was found to be 1.088-fold high in 10 µg/m3 increase in SO2 under 65 years in males in the previous-third-day(lag 2) in the unadjusted model, and the risk of death was found to be 1.086-fold (RR, 95%CI:1.007-1.164) high in males in the adjusted model. .

The association between burnout of healthcare employees and quality of work-life in Northwestern Turkey.

Aim: The present study aimed to determine the factors that affect the working life quality (WLQ) of healthcare employees and to examine the association between burnout levels and WLQ. Subject and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 332 healthcare employees working in Kirklareli, Northwestern Turkey. The data were collected with the e-survey, which included the Personal Information Form, Working Life Quality Questionnaire (WLQQ), and Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Form (MBI-GF). Results: A total of 54.2% of the participants, who had a mean age of 34.45±8.82, were midwives/nurses and 14.5% were physicians. It was determined that 71.1% of the participants had increased workloads, 81.6% were working outside their job descriptions during the pandemic period, and 57.8% wanted to quit their job. In the multivariate linear regression analysis, according to the adjusted models, a positive and significant association was determined between the WLQQ general dimension scores and having professional seniority of ≥10 years, and a negative association was detected with working in a secondary healthcare institution, increased workload, working outside the job description, and the desire to quit the job (p < 0.05). A positive association was detected between the WLQQ general dimension scores and the competence sub-dimension of the MBI-GF, and a significant and negative association was detected between burnout and desensitization (p < 0.05). Conclusion: WLQ scores increased as the burnout and desensitization decreased and the competence increased among the healthcare employees. In order to raise the WLQ, initiatives must be planned to improve the working conditions of healthcare employees and reduce psychosocial risks.

An investigation of anthropometric measurements of early adolescents and determination of BMI-for-age-based neck circumference and BMI-for-age-based mid-upper-arm circumference cut-off points.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: This study aimed to examine the anthropometric measurements of adolescents between the ages of 10 and 13, and to determine the BMI-for-age-based neck circumference (NC) and BMI-for-age-based mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) cut-off points for this age group. METHODS: This methodological study was conducted with 626 students of early adolescent age in Kirklareli in Turkey. The cut-off values of BMI-for-age-based NC and MUAC were determined by ROC analysis from severe thinness to obesity. The most suitable AUC value was evaluated according to LR(+) and LR(-) and Sensitivity and Specificity were shown. RESULTS: The frequency of severe thinness, thinness, overweight, obese among adolescents was 8.0%, 8.9%, 11.7%, and 16.3%, respectively. WHpR of 14.4% of the adolescents was ≥0.90 in boys and ≥0.85 in girls. According to WHtR, 23.8% had a value of <0.40 and, 17.8% had a value of ≥0.50. BMI-for-age-based NC cut-off points were severe thinness, thinness, overweight, obesity 25.50, 26.50, 29.50, 30.50 cm in girls, respectively; 26.50, 27.50, 30.50, 31.50 cm in boys, respectively. BMI-for-age-based MUAC cut-off points were severe thinness, thinness, overweight, obesity 19.50, 20.50, 24.50, 25.50 cm in girls, respectively; 19.50, 20.50, 25.50, 26.50 cm in boys, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Double burden of malnutrition was identified in early adolescents. The cutoff points for NC and MUAC found in this study showed good specificity to identify double burden of malnutrition in early adolescents and can be used as a reference in especially in cases of insufficient resources or isolated environments.

The association between air pollution parameters and emergency department visits and hospitalizations due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases: a time-series analysis.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the association between cardiovascular and respiratory Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospitalizations and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 µm (PM10) was determined. METHODS: The records of a total of 632,223 people diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases (ICD-10 code I00-I99) and respiratory diseases (ICD-10 code J00-J99) at and over the age of 18 between 2012 and 2018 in three hospitals in Karaman in Turkey were examined in the present study. The daily 24-h averages for SO2 and PM10 concentrations were acquired in National Air Quality Monitoring. A time-series analysis with Poisson Generalized Linear Model was used. RESULTS: Among the air pollution parameters, the mean ± standard deviation of SO2 and PM10 were 16.2 ± 22.1 and 75.8 ± 48.2 µg/m3, respectively. An increase of 10 µg/m3 in SO2 was associated with a 3% [Relative Risk (RR), 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 2-4)] increase in cardiovascular ED visit and 2% (RR, 95% CI 2-3) increase in respiratory ED visit, and 1% (RR, 95% CI 1-3) increase in respiratory hospitalizations. An increase of 10 µg/m3 in PM10 was associated with a 1% (RR, 95% CI 1-2) increase in cardiovascular hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS: Increases in SO2 are a risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory ED visits, and respiratory hospitalizations. Increases in PM10 are a risk factor for cardiovascular hospitalizations.

Association between postpartum depression level, social support level and breastfeeding attitude and breastfeeding self-efficacy in early postpartum women.

OBJECTIVE: The study was aimed at investigating the association between postpartum women's breastfeeding self-efficacy levels and their depression levels, social support levels, and breastfeeding attitudes in early postpartum period. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was carried out in Kirklareli in Turkey. The population of the study consisted of 398 women aged 15-49 in the first 42 days of the postpartum period who presented to eight family health centers. The study data were collected face-to-face using the Personal Information Form, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Breastfeeding Attitudes of the Evaluation Scale (BAES). RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 28.61±5.72 (Min:18, Max: 44), and the mean score they obtained from the BSES-SF was 55.13±8.39. Statistically significant differences were detected between the participants' BSES-SF scores and age groups, employment status, perceived income level, and the number of living children (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were detected between marital status, educational status and BSES-SF scores (p > 0.05). In the multivariate regression analysis adjusted according to the sociodemographic characteristics, BAES, EPDS and MSPSS accounted for 48.3% of the BSES-SF. A negative association was found between BSES-SF scores and EPDS scores (ß = -0.178, 95% CI:-0.349, -0.006), and a positive relation between the BAES scores (ß = 0.194, 95% CI: 0.163, 0.226) and the MSPSS scores (ß = 0.114, 95% CI: 0.037, 0.191). CONCLUSION: As the level of depression of women increases in the postpartum period, the level of breastfeeding self-efficacy decreases. The breastfeeding self-efficacy increases as the level of social support increases and as the attitudes that drive breastfeeding behavior change positively.

Association between health literacy and colorectal cancer screening behaviors in adults in Northwestern Turkey.

BACKGROUND: In this study, aimed to determine the frequency of participation in colorectal cancer (CRC) screenings, the factors affecting participation and the association between CRC screening behaviors and health literacy (HL). METHODS: This community-based cross-sectional study was carried out with 408 people residing in Kirklareli, a province in Northwestern Turkey, between August and November 2019. RESULTS: CRC screenings participation prevalence was 21.1%. Of them, 17.2% participated in fecal occult blood tests (FOBT) screenings, 7.6% participated in colonoscopy screenings, and 86.5% had inadequate or limited-problematic HL. According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the likelihood of not participating in CRC screenings was high in the participants who worked at a paid job (OR: 3.001, 95% CI: 1.018-8.850), who did not do any physical activity regularly (OR: 2.516, 95% CI: 1.251-5.060), who were not aware of the presence of an early diagnosis test for CRC (OR: 32.613, 95% CI: 13.338-79.742), who did not have a person having had CRC screening in their immediate environment (OR: 3.562, 95% CI: 1.752-7.240) and who had sufficient or excellent HL (OR: 3.324, 95% CI: 1.128-9.796). According to adjusted for some characteristics, there was no significant association between participation in CRC screenings and THLS-sub-dimensions and THLS-processes (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Participation in CRC screenings was low, and those with a high HL level were more likely not to participate in CRC screenings. Working status, knowledge and awareness levels affected the participation to CRC screenings. To encourage people to participate in screenings and to improve their HL, awareness-raising attempts for target groups should be increased.

Short-term effect of particular matter and sulfur dioxide exposure on asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hospital admissions in Center of Anatolia.

We investigated the associations between the daily variations of coarse particulate matter (PM10) and/or sulfur dioxide (SO2) and hospital admissions for asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diseases in Kirsehir, Center of Anatolia of Turkey. We analyzed the poison generalized linear model (GLM) to analyze the association between ambient air pollutants such as PM10 and SO2 and asthma and/or COPD admissions. We investigated single-lag days and multi-lag days for the risk increase in asthma, COPD, asthma, and/or COPD hospital admissions PM10, SO2, and PM10 with SO2 per 10 µg/m3. In single-lag day model a 10 µg/m3 increase in the current day (lag 0) concentrations of PM10 and SO2 corresponded to increase of 1.027 (95% CI:1.022-1.033) and 1.069 (95% CI:1.062, 1.077) for asthma. A 10 µg/m3 increase in the current day (lag 0) concentrations of PM10 and SO2 corresponded to increase of 1.029 (95% CI:1.022-1.035) and 1.065 (95% CI:1.056, 1.075) for COPD. A 10 µg/m3 increase in the current day (lag 0) concentrations of PM10 and SO2 corresponded to increase of 1.028 (95% CI:1.024-1.032) and 1.068 (95% CI:1.062, 1.074) for asthma and/or COPD. It was found that some lag structures were related with PM10 and SO2. Significant lags were detected in some lag structures from the previous first day until the previous eighth day (lag 1 to lag 7) in the asthma, COPD, and asthma and/or COPD hospital admissions in the model created with PM10 with SO2 both in the single-lag day model and in the multi-lag day model. Our study that used GLM in time series analysis showed that PM10 and/or SO2 short-term exposure in single-lag day and multi-lag day models was related with increased asthma, COPD, and asthma and/or COPD hospital admissions in the city between 2016 and 2019 until the previous-eighth day.

Breast Cancer Screening Behaviors in Women Aged 40 Years and Over in a Semi-Urban Region in Turkey: Relationships with Health Beliefs.

In this study, we aimed to determine the breast cancer screening behavior of women and to investigate the relationship between health beliefs and screening behaviors. The study was cross-sectional. It was conducted between April 2017 and June 2017 with 416 women aged ≥40. The Sociodemographic Information Form and the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale were used to collect data. In the statistical analysis, the number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pearson chi-square test, and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis were used. The rates for participating women performing breast self-examination, having clinical breast examination, and undergoing mammography were 11.8%, 8.9%, and 11.3%, respectively. Perceived susceptibility, seriousness, self-efficacy, benefits, health motivation, and perceived barriers were found to have strong associations with screening behaviors (p < 0.05). In this study, we found that few women performed breast self-examination, had clinical breast examination and mammography. In the present study, women perceived barriers related to both performing breast self-examination and undergoing mammography.

A suggestion to radiological hazards characterization of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs: spatial distribution modelling.

Spatial distribution modelling has been proposed to characterize the radiological hazards associated with concentration of natural 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and artificial 137Cs radionuclides in the nature. These elements have been determined for the sediment samples of the Bafa Lake with the aim of radiation hazard evaluation via a high purity germanium detector gamma spectrometry. Their activity concentrations in sediments are in the ranges of 29.87 ±â€¯2.2-72.56 ±â€¯11 Bq kg- 1 dry weight (dw), 31.57 ±â€¯3.5-66.48 ±â€¯8.3 Bq kg- 1 (dw), 332.01 ±â€¯12-1092.37 ±â€¯21 and 0.65 ±â€¯0.04-3.96 ±â€¯0.78 Bq kg- 1 (dw), respectively. In order to determine the radiological hazard associated with the radioactivity in the samples, the external terrestrial gamma dose rate in air, annual effective dose rate, the radium equivalent activity and the external hazard index are calculated and compared with the data from literature. Moreover, the spatial modelling distributions are obtained visually for radiological hazards characterization of these elements, which are very dangerous in terms of radiological and environmental pollution in the nature. These visual distributions give meaningful information for future researches on the migration of radionuclides in the environment.

Obesity with and without metabolic syndrome: do vitamin D and thyroid autoimmunity have a role?

AIMS: To investigate serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO), and 25(OH)D in the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome in an obese population. METHODS: Data from a prospectively generated "Obesity Polyclinic" database that includes socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric, and laboratory measurements of obese subjects were retrospectively analyzed. Subjects with body-mass index (BMI) ≥30kg/m(2) were eligible. After detailed analysis and exclusion of unavailable cases, subjects diagnosed with and without metabolic syndrome were compared for TSH, anti-TPO, and 25(OH)D. RESULTS: Of the study participants (n=548; men/women, 64/484), 277 were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome [Met-S (+)]. Met-S (+) patients had a higher mean BMI (36.4 vs. 32.3kg/m(2), p<.001) and percentage body fat (PBF) (39.2 vs. 35.3%, p<.001), but similar TSH (2.1 vs. 2.2mIU/mL, p=.759), anti-TPO (12 vs. 13IU/mL, p=.483), 25(OH)D (13.2 vs. 12.6ng/mL, p=.409), and calcium-phosphorus product (28.7 vs. 29.5mg/dL, p=0.275), compared to Met-S (-) subjects. When serum TSH, anti-TPO, and 25(OH)D levels were analyzed according to tertiles for comparisons of fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, BMI, and PBF, only 25(OH)D levels were negatively correlated with BMI and PBF. CONCLUSIONS: Although decreased 25(OH)D levels were related to the degree of obesity in obese subjects, serum 25(OH)D levels per se did not seem to be associated with metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity and hypothyroidism were high in this obese sample; however, neither serum TSH nor anti-TPO levels correlated with metabolic syndrome. Our findings did not support the hypothesis that thyroid autoimmunity and/or vitamin D status have a role in the development of metabolic disturbances in the obese population.