Emotional Eating in Adults: the Role of Socio-demographics, Lifestyle Behaviors, and Self-regulation- Findings From a US National Study
Abstract Background: Emotional eating, the tendency to overeat in response to negative emotions, has often been linked to weight gain. However, scant evidence exists examining prevalence and correlates of emotional eating among large samples of adults in the United States (US). Hence, we examine the relationship between individual and socio-economic factors, health behaviors, and self-regulation to emotional eating patterns among US adults. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 5,863 Family Health Habits Survey participants. Multivariable ordered logistic regression was employed to examine the relationship between the frequency of the desire to eat when emotionally upset (never, rarely, sometimes, often, and very often) to the independent variables. Results: Analysis reveals that 20.5% of the sample tended to emotionally eat often or very often. Being female, non-Hispanic white, and of younger age were all related to a higher likelihood of emotional eating. Additionally, inability to delay gratification (impatience) was related to an 18% increased likelihood (95%CI 1.05-1.33) for emotional eating. Finally, emotional eating was significantly related to more frequent fast food consumption, and increased alcohol intake. Conclusions: Program planners might need to develop targeted interventions aimed at enhancing emotional regulation skills while addressing these less healthful behaviors (e.g., fast-food intake) with the ultimate goal of obesity and chronic disease prevention. To examine the relationship between individual and socio-economic factors, health behaviors, and self-regulation to emotional eating patterns among adults.