Sense of coherence and its connections with a suitable weight

A huge number of studies have shown that overeating is a behavior driven by stress. Since the description of the sense of coherence (SOC) by Antonovsky, this concept proved to be a useful tool as measure of coping with stress. Even more, the management of simptomatololgy of different diseases(e.g. pain) is better, as the SOC score goes higher. The present pilot study tried to find links between weight and food behavior on one hand, and the SOC score, on the other hand, in a sample of Romanians. We used the 13 item SOC questionnaire and an evaluation questionnaire of the self perception of the nutritional status and attitudes (23 items). There were no statistically significant links between BodyMassIndex and the SOC score. In a regression model, after correcting for age, education and income, the main predictors for SOC score were : the self perceived health, the perception of the relation between health and normal weight, the evaluation of the relation between food intake and weight gain and the difficulty of maintaining constant weight. In conclusion, even if the sense of coherence doesn't seem to show close relations with the BMI, it is linked with weight related factors, especially with the control of weight during time. The domain of weight control and its links with SOC are rather promising for further studies, because special training methods that target the rise of SOC score are available. Thus a rather simple way of weight control could be established, helping modern man to cope with overweight and obesity.