Impact of stress on eating behavior among professionals working in IT sector in India.

BACKGROUND: Based on individual differences ,in response to stress an individual’s food intake may increase , decrease or remain the same. Previous studies show eating at workplace to be influenced by stress. Working may distract people from self-monitoring of food and influence food intake. Only few studies have included decreased or no change in eating in response to stress. AIM: To assess the impact of stress on eating behavior among professionals working in IT sector in India. METHODS: Online anonymous cross-sectional study was done on professionals working in India, using snowball sampling. The questionnaire included a consent form, socio demographic data, Kessler’s psychological distress scale[K10] to measure the psychological distress and Salzburg Stress Eating Scale [SSES] to measure changes in eating behavior in response to stress. Data was analysed using SPSS statistical software version 22.0 (IBM). P-value was considered significant below .05 and all tests were two-tailed. RESULTS: 190 respondents from 11 states in India have completed the questionnaire.63.2% had some level of psychological distress and 91.6% had changes in eating behavior. Significantly higher stress levels were found in those who ate more in response to stress followed by those who ate less and those with no change[median K10 scores across who in response to stress eat more vs less vs no change:21[16-27.75]vs 17[14.25-22.75] vs 25[18.75-31];p=0.005] CONCLUSION: Higher stress levels were significantly associated with changes in eating behavior. Changes in eating behavior were present even in those likely to be well ,suggesting role of other factors influencing eating besides stress.