Comparison of Eating Behaviors in People with Multiple Sclerosis with Recurrence in the Past Year and Control Group

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare eating behaviors in the patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with recurrence of the disease in the past year and the control group.

Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was a comparison that was performed in the statistical population of two groups of people with MS in Guilan Province in the second half of 2018. The first group consisted of people with MS with a recurrence of the disease in the past year and the second group of people with MS without a history of recurrence of the disease in the past year that were selected by matching the variables of age, sex and duration of the disease. In each of these groups, 104 people were employed as a sample in a targeted method from medical centers in Rasht. In order to collect data demographic information form and Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire were used. Research data were analyzed by independent t-test using SPSS software version 16.

Results: The results showed that among patients with MS with a history of recurrence and the control group there was a significant difference (P <0.05) in the variables of emotional eating (t = 3.03, P = 0.01), external stimuli (t=4.49, P=0.01) and inhibition in eating (t =3.81, P=0.01).

Conclusion: Inappropriate eating behaviors are one of the factors associated with recurrence and disease attacks in people with MS. Therefore, it is suggested that psychologists and nutritionists consider the role of eating behaviors in these individuals to reduce disease attacks.