In a social environment that excessively values thinness, young women are increasingly experiencing distorted perceptions of their own bodies. This trend leads to behaviors where individuals, even those who are normal or underweight, perceive themselves as overweight, resulting in extreme weight control practices (Kang & Kim 2015; Choi & Kim, 2019). These methods can cause health issues like nutritional imbalances and binge eating. In addition, failing to achieve the desired weight through such extreme measures often leads to emotional problems, including anxiety and stress. Stress related to body shape and weight also contributes significantly to nervosa (Nam et al., 2014). Individuals with this condition are highly susceptible to stress, frequently resorting to binge eating as a coping mechanism to escape negative emotions. Notably, adolescents and young women account for 1-3% of nervosa cases, with women making up 90% of this demographic (Ihm, 2011). Addressing stress-induced nervosa is thus essential. While medication is a common treatment approach, there is an increasing focus on alternative therapies, such as scent inhalation, which are cost-effective and efficient (Lee et al., 2011).

Current research on appetite control using inhalation methods is limited, especially regarding stress-induced binge eating behavior among young women, particularly those in college (Lee & Kim, 2015; Choi & Kim, 2019). In addition, stress-induced binge eating behavior among female college students in their 20s is an important issue that needs to be addressed. This study aimed to explore the impact of inhaling pomegranate scent on stress reduction and appetite control in female college students in their 20s both before and after experimental treatment. It proposes this intervention method as a potential approach to address stress-induced binge eating among this demographic.

Scent inhalation, a non-invasive technique, involves absorbing essential oils from natural substances through the skin or olfactory system (Kim et al., 2014). When these oils are inhaled, they pass through the olfactory nerves to the brain and are also absorbed by the lungs, affecting the body as a whole. This method is known to enhance physical immunity and mental stability, effectively reducing symptoms associated with stress, such as increased blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels (Kim & Lee, 2021). Moreover, scent inhalation suppresses the secretion of adrenal hormones like adrenaline and facilitates the release of other hormones and neurotransmitters, improving mental functions and diminishing stress responses (Kim & Lee, 2021; Seo & Park, 2003).

Belonging to the Punicaceae family, the pomegranate is a deciduous small tree or shrub known for its beneficial properties. Its flowers are recognized for preventing red spots and offering astringent and healing effects. Historically, parts of the pomegranate, including the bark, root, and fruit rind, have been used for their astringent, hemostatic, anti-pain, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial qualities. The fruit itself is a rich source of minerals, vitamins (B1, B2, Niacin, C), amino acids, and fatty acids, which are effective for optic nerve health and energy metabolism. Ellagic acid, found in the rind, is noted for its antioxidant activity, reducing gastric acid secretion, and contributing to skin whitening and wrinkle prevention. The peel, high in tannins and plant estrogens, is also recognized for its effectiveness in reducing obesity (Rural Development Administration, 2020). Furthermore, Wee et al. (2015) confirmed in animal experiments that pomegranate concentrate affects menopausal symptoms such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. This effect was observed through improvements in abdominal and visceral fat as well as blood lipids in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, Na et al. (2016) discovered that serotonin, dopamine, and testosterone levels, which were increased due to sleep deprivation stress, were significantly reduced by the intake of pomegranate extract and caffeine.

The societal emphasis on slimness, leading to distorted body image perceptions, often drives individuals towards extreme weight control measures. These methods, if not managed correctly, can lead to health problems such as anorexia and binge eating, with unachieved target weights contributing to anxiety and stress (Nam et al., 2009; Son, 2011). Binge eating, often a response to stress, can progress into nervosa, marked by consuming significantly larger amounts of food in a short period than usual, accompanied by behaviors like vomiting or medication use to prevent weight gain (Ihm, 2011). Nervosa is most common in individuals in their 20s to 30s, with women showing higher rates than men. Hart & Ollendick (1985) found that female college students exhibit more binge eating and nervosa symptoms compared to working women (Choi & Kim, 2019).

This pattern of repetitive binge eating and dieting in young women can hinder the maintenance of reduced weight or lead to weight gain due to irregular eating, potentially resulting in obesity. Moreover, the failure of extreme diets often increases feelings of depression, self-disgust, and guilt, highlighting the need to address binge eating behavior as a significant health concern (Chae, 2019).

The study was conducted with 21 female students, aged 19 to 25, from E University in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. Criteria for participant selection included no allergies to pomegranate, grapefruit, and sandalwood, absence of olfactory or neuropsychiatric disorders during the study, and exclusion of pregnant or medicated individuals. Detailed explanations of the study's objectives and procedures were provided to the participants, and their consent for participation was obtained.

In the experiment, grapefruit and sandalwood, selected based on their documented effectiveness in stress reduction, were used alongside pomegranate. The pomegranate fragrance, a high-concentration product from C&R Flavoring, was diluted to a 30% concentration. The grapefruit scent, comprised of 100% natural essential oil, and the sandalwood fragrance, a high-concentration fragrance oil, were both procured from Candleworks. A blend of these scents, in a 5:3:2 ratio of pomegranate, grapefruit, and sandalwood, based on studies showing their synergistic effects, was mixed with a perfume base to create a 15% eau de parfum for use in the study.

Participants first completed a pre-inhalation stress questionnaire and an appetite assessment, as detailed in Figure 1. They then inhaled the fragrance, sprayed 1-2 times onto a scent strip and held 5cm from the nose. Post-inhalation, they completed a post-stress questionnaire, and appetite assessments were conducted at 15-minute intervals for 60 minutes following the experiment.

We did not apply for an IRB because this study was experimental and did not involve any invasive activities such as drug administration or blood draws.

Data was analyzed using the statistical software SPSS 26.0. Demographic statistics of participants were explored through frequency analysis. The impact of scent inhalation on stress was evaluated using paired-samples T-tests. Differences in appetite stages according to BMI were investigated using a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA. The significance threshold for the experiment was set at a confidence interval of p<0.05.

Table 2 presents the analysis of stress levels before and after scent inhalation. The findings show a significant reduction in post-inhalation stress scores (M=20.38) compared to pre-inhalation scores (M=49.33), with statistical significance (t=6.555, p<0.001). This indicates that inhaling the pomegranate scent effectively reduces stress.

In this study, variations in BMI and appetite at six different stages were observed among the participants. The study revealed that in overweight individuals, there was a decrease in appetite after inhaling the scent (post-inhalation M=4.11) compared to before (pre-inhalation M=6.67) as shown in Table 3. However, such a reduction in appetite was not observed in participants categorized as underweight, normal weight, or obese. These results indicate that the effectiveness of inhaling pomegranate scent for appetite control appears to be limited, prompting the need for further investigation.

The analysis focused on differences in appetite stages related to BMI, as shown in Table 4, demonstrated that the interaction effect between appetite scores, groups of participants, and the timing of measurements (F=0.367, p>0.05) did not show statistical significance. This finding suggests that there were no significant differences in appetite changes among various groups. The variations in appetite scores, when analyzed through repeated measures analysis of variance, considering both the group and timing of measurements, were found no change. As a result, the study concludes that the effect of pomegranate scent inhalation on controlling appetite is minimal.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of inhaling pomegranate fragrance on stress and appetite control in female university students in their 20s. As a result of inhaling a 15% eau de parfum containing pomegranate, grapefruit and sandarwood in a 5:3:2 ratio, the post-inhalation stress score was significantly lower than the pre-inhalation stress score, confirming that pomegranate scent inhalation is an effective intervention for stress reduction. These results are consistent with previous studies that have confirmed the effectiveness of scent inhalation for stress reduction, such as Jung & Song (2018), who confirmed that scent inhalation with a 2:2:1 blend of bergamot, lavender, and sandalwood was effective in reducing stress in intensive care unit nurses, Nam et al. (2009), who confirmed that a 2:1:1 blend of lavender, bergamot, lemon, and rose was effective in reducing stress in intensive care unit nurses: 1:2:1, and Ko et al. (2013), who found that inhalation of a blend of meichang, lavender, and rose in a ratio of 3:5:2 was effective in reducing anxiety and stress in nursing students, which is similar to the present study. As a result of the above study, it is believed that it can be used as an appropriate stress management method that can be easily applied to female college students in their 20s who experience binge eating due to stress without being limited by time and place. However, since this study was conducted only on students at E University in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, and the results of appetite control before and after inhalation were not available, we suggest a follow-up study on the effects of pomegranate scent inhalation on stress and appetite control on female college students in their 20s nationwide based on the results of this study.