The grit personality trait, eating behavior, and obesity among Japanese adults: a cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to investigate the role of the psychological impact of environments rich in palatable foods on three aspects of eating behavior: cognitive restraint (CR), uncontrolled eating (UE), and emotional eating (EE). The hypotheses were as follows: (a) The psychological impact (i.e., motivation to eat) of an environment rich in palatable foods will positively predict CR, UE, and EE; (b) dieting will predict CR, UE, and EE; and (c) CR, UE, and EE will positively predict body mass index (BMI). This study had a cross-sectional design in which data were collected online from 413 subjects. The psychological impact of food-rich environments (food available, food present, and food tasted) was assessed using the Power of Food Scale (PFS), and CR, UE, and EE were assessed using the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R18). Both instruments were tested for confirmatory factor analysis. The relationship between constructs was measured using partial least-square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). “Food available” positively predicted all TFEQ-R18 factors (p < 0.01). “Food present” positively predicted UE (p < 0.001) and EE (p = 0.01). People currently on a diet showed higher levels of CR (p < 0.001) and EE (p = 0.02). UE and EE positively predicted BMI. Thus, CR, UE, and EE were positively predicted by the motivation to consume palatable foods in varying proximity, suggesting that the presence of food and, more importantly, its general availability may be important determinants of eating behavior, particularly UE and EE. Health strategies should consider the influence of the food environment to prevent and better manage impairments in eating behavior. Sex differences suggest that special attention should be paid to women. Furthermore, dieting was associated with higher levels of EE, which in turn was associated with higher BMI. Weight loss interventions should consider this vulnerability.

Emotional eating and cognitive restraint mediate the association between sleep quality and BMI in young adults

ObjectiveMany confirmed genetic loci for obesity are expressed in regions of the brain that regulate energy intake and reward-seeking behavior. Whether these loci contribute to the development of specific eating behaviors has not been investigated. We examined the relationship between a genetic susceptibility to obesity and cognitive restraint, uncontrolled and emotional eating.Design and MethodsEating behavior and body mass index (BMI) were determined by questionnaires for 1471 men and 2381 women from two U.S cohorts. Genotypes were extracted from genome-wide scans and a genetic-risk score (GRS) derived from 32 obesity-loci was calculated.ResultsThe GRS was positively associated with emotional and uncontrolled eating(P<0.002). In exploratory analysis, BMI-increasing variants of MTCH2, TNNI3K and ZC3H4 were positively associated with emotional eating and those of TNNI3K and ZC3H4 were positively associated with uncontrolled eating. The BMI-increasing variant of FTO was positively and those of LRP1B and TFAP2B were inversely associated with cognitive restraint. These associations for single SNPs were independent of BMI but were not significant after multiple-testing correction.ConclusionsAn overall genetic susceptibility to obesity may also extend to eating behaviors. The link between specific loci and obesity may be mediated by eating behavior but larger studies are warranted to confirm these results.

Relationships among alexithymia, psychological distress, and disordered eating behaviors in adolescents

Understanding of behavioral factors associated with obesity is of importance in addressing this issue. This study examined the association between cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, emotional eating and body mass index (BMI) and amount of food plated, consumed, leftovers, and leftover food thrown into the trash (food wasted) in early adolescent girls nine to 13 years in O’ahu, Hawai’i (n = 93). Food plated, consumed, leftovers, and food wasted were estimated using a three-day mobile food record™ (mFR). Weight and height were measured to compute BMI (kg/m2). The three-factor eating questionnaire provided a score from 0 to 100 for cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating. Higher scores are indicative of greater cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating. Pearson’s correlations were computed to examine the relationship between three factor eating scores and BMI. General linear models were conducted to examine the effect of each of three-factor eating scores on food plated, consumed, leftovers, and food wasted. Cognitive restraint was positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.36, p < 0.001) and with BMI z-score (r = 0.40, p < 0.001). There were no associations between three-factor eating scores and food plated, consumed, leftovers, and food wasted at lunch. However, at dinner, total energy plated, left over, and food wasted increased by 4.24 kcal/day (p = 0.030), 1.67 kcal/day (p = 0.002), and 0.93 kcal/day (p = 0.031), respectively, with a unit increase in uncontrolled eating score. Similarly, total energy plated and energy left over at dinner increased by 3.40 kcal/day (p = 0.045) and 1.51 kcal/day (p = 0.001), respectively, with a unit increase in emotional eating score. Additional research should examine the specific roles of cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, emotional eating and food waste in the development of obesity in adolescents.

Eating behaviour is of particular interest for research focusing on body weight status. However, little is known about the relationships of certain factors, especially social desirability, with self-reported eating behaviour such as cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating among young adult males and females. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between eating behaviour and age, socioeconomic status (SES), physical activity (PA), body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and social desirability among university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 353 university students (59.2% females). Eating behaviour was assessed using the 13-item Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-13). SES and PA were determined using self-reporting, and the Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale assessed social desirability. BMI and WHtR were calculated based on measured parameters. Associations between self-reported eating behaviour and other variables were assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multivariate general linear models. Cognitive restraint was positively correlated with BMI and WHtR in both males (r = 0.174, P = 0.036 and r = 0.194, P = 0.020, respectively) and females (r = 0.239, P < 0.001 and r = 0.165, P = 0.017, respectively), and emotional eating was positively correlated with BMI among females (r = 0.184, P = 0.008). Social desirability was negatively correlated with uncontrolled eating (r = −0.287, P < 0.001) and emotional eating (r = −0.301, P < 0.001) among females. There were no significant correlations between eating behaviour and age or socioeconomic status (P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that, among males, PA had a main effect on emotional eating (ηp2 = 0.044, F = 6.276, P = 0.013). Among females, cognitive restraint was positively associated with PA (ηp2 = 0.034, F = 7.127, P = 0.008) and BMI (ηp2 = 0.038, F = 7.959, P = 0.005), and emotional eating with BMI (ηp2 = 0.032, F = 6.638, P = 0.011). Social desirability had the highest main effect on eating behaviour among females, being negatively associated with uncontrolled eating (ηp2 = 0.077, F = 16.754, P < 0.001) and emotional eating (ηp2 = 0.082, F = 18.046, P < 0.001). This study showed that PA, BMI, WHtR, and social desirability were associated with self-reported eating behaviour among university students. Social desirability bias should be considered when evaluating uncontrolled eating and emotional eating among females.

Poor emotion regulation, along with elevated perfectionism, is recognised as a risk factor for the development of eating disorder (ED) symptoms. Therefore, the aim of our study was to examine the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and perfectionism with ED symptoms, while controlling for emotional eating, uncontrolled eating, and cognitive restraint as mediators. In total, 482 adolescents (246 girls and 236 boys; M = 15.00, SD = 0.31) participated in this study. Based on the participants' body height and weight measured by the medical team during their regular preventive health examinations, the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Participants also answered the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. According to the results obtained, adolescent girls in our sample reported more difficulties in emotion regulation, more uncontrolled and emotional eating, and more ED symptoms. A significant direct effect was found for difficulties in emotion regulation and ED symptoms but not for perfectionism. In addition, only emotional eating and cognitive restraint (not uncontrolled eating) mediated the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and perfectionism and ED symptoms. The results suggest that difficulties in emotion regulation may be more important than perfectionism in explaining ED symptoms in a sample of healthy adolescents. When adolescents experience problems in emotion regulation in combination with emotional or uncontrolled eating, they might be at a higher risk of experiencing concerns about weight and a variety of other ED symptoms, and this should be considered when planning preventive interventions for adolescents.

Objective The objective of this study was to examine associations of sleep quality and quantity, food security, and physical activity with eating behaviors that may be associated with college weight gain. Participants: College students enrolled in multiple sections of a general education class completed an online survey in January 2016 (n = 153; 18–52 years of age). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Outcome variables included emotional eating (EE), uncontrolled eating (UE), and cognitive restraint (CR) as measured by The Three Factor Eating Questionnaire Revised. Bivariate analyses, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression were completed with significance at p≤.05. Results: Higher EE was associated with higher stress levels and female sex (p <.001 and p=.02) and higher UE scores were associated with higher perceived stress (p<.001) while lower UE scores were associated with tobacco use (p=.03 regression, p=.098, bivariate). Higher CR was associated with higher parental education and use of relaxation methods. Higher CR also was associated with perceived stress, but this relationship differed depending upon freshmen status and amount of physical activity, and a relationship with sleep was observed that differed depending upon freshmen status. Conclusion: Interventions to help college students reduce stress and improve sleep may improve eating behaviors.

Among healthcare professionals (HCPs), the demanding nature of their work, irregular schedules, and high-stress environments can significantly influence their eating behaviors. This study’s objectives were to assess the relationship between cognitive restraint (CR), emotional eating (EE), uncontrolled eating (UE), and body mass index (BMI) and identify the sociodemographic factors associated with CR, EE, and UE among HCPs. A cross-sectional study and a simple random sampling technique were employed. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and anthropometric measurements were gathered using a self-administered online questionnaire. Eating behaviors (CR, EE, UE) were assessed using the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire—Revised 18 Items. Of the 400 HCPs, 37.3% of their BMIs fell within the overweight range, and 22.5% fell within the obesity range. The overall mean score of CR among participants was 67.5 ± 26.4, UE was 42.1 ± 22.8, and EE was 38 ± 26.9. BMI was significantly associated with UE (B = 0.523, p = 0.026) and EE (B = 0.612, p = 0.014), suggesting that higher BMI levels are related to greater tendencies toward both behaviors. These findings underscore the need for tailored interventions and support programs to address these eating behaviors among HCPs. Such interventions are vital to promote healthier eating behaviors, improve overall well-being, and ultimately enhance the quality of healthcare these professionals provide.

Weight gain and obesity are important issues in liver transplant (LTx)recipients.Although dietary habits are probably related to excessive weight gain after LTx, some studies have failed to demonstrate these associations. The present study aimed to assess eating behaviour and verify its association with weight gain and excessive weight among LTx recipients. The investigation comprised a cross-sectional study. Post-LTx patients, aged>18years were evaluated about their eating behaviour [Three Factor Eating Questionnaire-R21 (TFEQ-R21)]. The scores of the TFEQ-R21 [uncontrolled eating (UE), cognitive restraint (CR) and emotional eating (EE)] were determined. Excessive weight was classified as body mass index ≥25kg/m² and obesity≥30kg/m². In total, 270 patients (age 58.0years; range 20.0-77.0years; 64.1% men) were assessed. Average weight gain was 8.0kg (range -16.0 to 41.0kg). Of the patients, 64.1% (n=173) had excessive weight and 23.3% (n=63) were obese. Post-LTx weight gain was significantly correlated with UE (r=0.311, P<0.001) and EE (r=0.287, P<0.001). Patients with excessive weight had significantly higher scores than others: CR (61.0; range 0-122.0 versus 44.0; range 0-116.0) (P=0.003) and EE (11.0; range 0-100.0 versus 0.0; range 0-100.0) (P=0.030). Patients with obesity had higher scores than non-obese UE (22.0; range 0-77.0 versus 14.0; range 0-85.0; P=0.028), CR (55.0; range 11.0-116.0 versus 50.0; range 0-122.0) (P=0.017) and EE (16.0; range 0-100.0 versus 5.0; range 0-100.0) individuals (P<0.001). The greatest quartiles of weight gain had higher scores on the eating behaviours of UE and EE, especially those with weight gain≥14kg. UE was associated with weight gain. CR was associated with being overweight. EE was associated with obesity. Uncontrolled eating is associated with weight gain, CR was associated with excessive weight and EE was associated with obesity after LTx.

Medical students are subjected to the risk of obesity due to various factors. Understanding behavioral issues may provide an important insight into obesity development, prevention, and treatment. Emotional, uncontrolled, and restrictive eating practices are problematic eating behaviors characterized by food intake independent of hunger but based on emotional state. Limited data from Egypt are currently available; therefore, this study was undertaken with the objective to find the frequency of overweight and obesity among medical students at Mansoura University, Egypt. Eating behavior and physical activity in relation to overweight/obesity were also assessed. A total of 368 undergraduate medical students were included in this study. Eating behavior was described using the French translation of Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18. Obesity and physical activity were assessed according to WHO recommendations. Among the total students, 54% were normal weight, 32% were overweight, 9% were obese class I, 2% were obese class II, 1% were obese class III, and 2% were underweight. Overweight/obese students had significantly lower physical activity than nonoverweight/obese. Cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating were significantly higher in overweight/obese compared with nonoverweight/obese students. Cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating were significantly correlated with body mass index. Uncontrolled eating was negatively correlated with sex and residence, whereas emotional eating was negatively correlated with physical activity. Female sex, physical inactivity, increased cognitive restraint, and increased emotional eating scores were significant predictors of obesity in the studied medical students. Medical students are likely to be overweight or obese. The main risk factors associated with overweight and obesity are female sex, lack of physical activity, and cognitive and emotional restraint but not uncontrolled eating.

Mediation and modification of genetic susceptibility to obesity by eating behaviors

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among weight stigma, eating behaviors, and stress, as well as to analyze the effect of stress in mediating the association between weight stigma and eating behaviors.MethodsThe study involved 1818 adolescents between 14 to 19 years of age and was conducted in Wuhan, China in 2019. Weight stigma, eating behaviors (cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating), and stress were assessed by self-report questionnaires. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were used to examine the predictors of cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating; the serial mediation models analyses were conducted to analyze the effect of stress in mediating the association between weight stigma and eating behaviors for the whole non-overweight (normal and underweight) and overweight or obese participants, respectively.ResultsHierarchical linear regression analyses showed that experiences of weight stigma significantly predicted uncontrolled eating and emotional eating regardless of body mass index (BMI) (non-overweight adolescents: uncontrolled eating: β [SE] = 0.161 [0.017]; emotional eating: β [SE] = 0.199 [0.008], p < 0.05; overweight or obese adolescents: uncontrolled eating: β [SE] = 0.286 [0.030]; emotional eating: β [SE] = 0.267 [0.014], p < 0.05); experiences of weight stigma significantly predicted cognitive restraint among non-overweight adolescents (β [SE] = 0.204 [0.013], p < 0.05). Mediation analyses showed that stress mediated the associations between weight stigma and uncontrolled eating and emotional eating among non-overweight adolescents (uncontrolled eating: indirect effect coefficient = 0.0352, 95% CI = 0.0241, 0.0478; emotional eating: indirect effect coefficient = 0.0133, 95% CI = 0.0085, 0.0186).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that non-overweight individuals can still experience weight stigma and its associated negative consequences; the relationship between weight stigma and eating behaviors is modulated by weight status; stress mediated the associations between weight stigma and uncontrolled and emotional eating among non-overweight adolescents.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to study the relationship of food consumption frequency on eating behaviours (cognitive dietary restraint, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating) among women. Food consumption frequency score and eating behaviours were determined among one hundred professional women engaged in teaching (30-59 years old) across five colleges of Jalandhar city of Punjab. The older age groups i.e. 40 to 49 and 50 to 59 years reported significantly (p≤0.05) high scores of disinhibition whereas, young age group (30-39 years) reported high scores for cognitive dietary restraint. Uncontrolled eating had a positive and significant (p≤0.05, 0.01) correlation with consumption frequency of traditional snacks, western snacks, egg, meat and fish and eating out among the 30-39 years age group. While in the subjects aged 40-49 years, uncontrolled eating was significantly correlated (p≤0.10, 0.05) with higher consumption frequency of snacks while emotional eating was significantly (p≤0.10, 0.05) correlated with the higher consumption frequency of snacks, egg, meat and fish as well as frequency of eating out. Cognitive restraint was significantly (p≤0.10) correlated with lesser consumption frequency of snacks. In 50-59 years group, higher consumption frequency of snacks was significantly (p≤0.10) correlated with uncontrolled eating and emotional eating while higher frequency of eating out was significantly (p≤0.05) related to emotional eating. The study concluded that eating behaviours majorly influenced the food choices of adult professional women thus, may predispose them to subsequent weight gain and development of obesity.

Eating behavior tendencies among Finnish adults in relation to previous weight loss attempts