Stress influences appetite and comfort food preferences in college women

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of stress on appetite and eating habits related to comfort foods in a college population. Two hundred seventy-two female college students (17-26 years) from the Family and Consumer Sciences department at a midwestern university participated in the study. The 45-itemized stress-eating survey was posted on the Internet for 1 month using InQsit (version 9.3, 2004, Fortreide & Draper, Muncie, IN), a comprehensive online assessment instrument. When stressed, 81% (n = 221) of the subjects experienced a change in appetite, and of these, 62% (n = 139) experienced an increased appetite when stressed. There was no association with age and changes in appetite during normal and stressful situations. Under normal conditions, 80% (n = 218) reported making healthy eating choices; however, only 33% of them ate healthy when stressed. When stressed, subjects with an increased appetite chose significantly more types of sweet foods and mixed dishes. Sweet foods commonly eaten were desserts, chocolate/candy bars, candy, ice cream, muffins/sweet breads, and fresh or canned fruit, whereas mixed dishes commonly eaten were burgers or sandwich meat items, pizza, casseroles, tacos, ethnic foods, and fast food. Interestingly, the variety of foods selected in each category decreased under stressful conditions. In this study, there was no significant difference in appetite levels during stressful and normal conditions between restrained and unrestrained eaters.