Abstract
Stress caused by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may lead to emotional eating which may have a negative impact on the weight status. This study aimed to analyze the association between emotional eating and body mass, as well as changes in body mass during the COVID-19 pandemic, within the Polish Adolescents’ COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study. A total of 1126 Polish adolescents, aged 15–20, were included. A random quota sampling was performed within a national sample, and emotional eating was assessed using Emotional Eater Questionnaire (EEQ). Based on the declared height and weight before and during the pandemic, the respondents were categorized according to their body mass (malnourished, normal weight, overweight, obese) and changes in body mass during the COVID-19 pandemic (lost weight, no body mass change, gained weight). Higher EEQ scores were achieved by female respondents compared with males (p < 0.0001), respondents who stated that they gained weight during the pandemic compared with those who stated either weight loss or no body mass change (p < 0.0001), and overweight and obese respondents compared with those who had normal weight and who were malnourished (p < 0.0001). A higher share of emotional eaters and very emotional eaters was found among female respondents, respondents stating weight gain during the pandemic, and overweight and obese respondents, compared with the other ones (p < 0.0001). Based on the findings, it may be concluded that among Polish adolescents gender, body mass, and body mass change during the COVID-19 pandemic are the major determinants of emotional eating behaviors and that female individuals, obese individuals, and those gaining weight are especially vulnerable to emotional eating behaviors. The results of the study suggest that the issue of emotional eating should be addressed in general public health policy and appropriate education should be provided to vulnerable groups such as female and obese adolescents.
Highlights
Emotional eating is defined as the tendency to eat in response to negative emotions, while the food products chosen for eating are mostly energy-dense [1], and high in sugars and fat [2]
As such eating behavior involves the consumption of high-calorie food products, it may even have an impact on weight status, as indicated by in the review of Frayn & Knäuper [5] that emotional eating in adults is associated with weight gain over time
Female respondents, compared with male ones, were characterized by higher Eater Questionnaire (EEQ) scores (p < 0.0001), indicating that they are more vulnerable to emotional eating behaviors than male ones
Summary
Emotional eating is defined as the tendency to eat in response to negative emotions, while the food products chosen for eating are mostly energy-dense [1], and high in sugars and fat [2]. Emotional eating has been observed in both individuals with a normal weight and those who are overweight/obese [3], and may be considered a maladaptive coping strategy [4]. As such eating behavior involves the consumption of high-calorie food products, it may even have an impact on weight status, as indicated by in the review of Frayn & Knäuper [5] that emotional eating in adults is associated with weight gain over time. Psychological stress, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and associated with anxiety, fear, and isolation [9], has been found to increase the risk of obesity, due to its influence on eating behaviors and on the immune and endocrine system [10]
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