Eating Behaviour among University Students: Relationships with Age, Socioeconomic Status, Physical Activity, Body Mass Index, Waist-to-Height Ratio and Social Desirability

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.

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ADIPOQ gene is linked to emotional eating behaviour in young Nigerian adults independent of psychological traits

Bulletin of the National Research Centre ◽

10.1186/s42269-020-00450-5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Awoyemi Abayomi Awofala ◽

Olusegun Emmanuel Ogundele ◽

Khalid Olajide Adekoya

Keyword(s):

Emotional Eating ◽

Genetic Variant ◽

Eating Behaviour ◽

Biological Factors ◽

Psychological Traits ◽

Adipoq Gene ◽

Cognitive Restraint ◽

Beta Coefficient ◽

And Gender ◽

Uncontrolled Eating

Abstract Background A disturbance in eating behaviour (EB) is the hallmark of patients with eating disorders, and depicts a complex interaction of environmental, psychological and biological factors. In the present study, we propose a model of association of genetic susceptibility—represented by adiponectin (ADIPOQ) gene—with eating behavioural and psychological traits. Results Evaluation of the distribution of a polymorphism of the ADIPOQ (rs1501299 G > T) with respect to three EB factors involving cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating revealed that T-allele in rs1501299 was associated with a decreased susceptibility to emotional EB in codominant (e.g., GG vs. TT) (beta-coefficient [β] = 2.39, 95% Confidence interval [CI] = − 4.02, − 0.76; p value [p] = 0.02), recessive (GG + GT vs. TT) (β = − 2.77, 95% CI = − 3.65, − 0.69; p = 0.005) and additive (GG = 0, GT = 1, TT = 2) (β = − 1.02, 95% CI = − 1.80, − 0.24; p = 0.01) models of inheritance. The presence of the T-allele was not significantly associated with psychological factors involving depression, anxiety and stress. Finally, none of the psychological traits significantly predicted any of the EB factors after controlling for age, body weight and gender. Conclusions Our data suggest that genetic variant in ADIPOQ locus may influence human emotional eating behaviour.

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Sensory perception and psychological aspects of eating behavior: factors influencing fat hedonics in Malaysia

International Journal of Food Studies ◽

10.7455/ijfs/9.2.2020.a4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 307-318

Author(s):

Yun Fei Tan ◽

See Kwong Goh ◽

See Wan Yan

Keyword(s):

Emotional Eating ◽

Eating Behaviour ◽

Psychological Aspects ◽

High Fat ◽

Obesity Epidemic ◽

Food Items ◽

Cognitive Restraint ◽

Three Factor Eating Questionnaire ◽

Uncontrolled Eating ◽

The Relationship

Understanding the causes of obesity epidemic requires examination of what contributes to preference of palatable foods. Using a sensorial-consumer approach, this research examined the relationship between the sensation of the hedonic liking of fat with psychological and weight profiles. The study began with preliminary testing of the hedonic ratings of 24 food items (12 low fat (LF), 12 high fat(HF)) and completion of the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R18) investigating cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating aspects. Eight (8) out of the twelve (12) food pairs that had discriminating characteristics were selected, for inclusion in the study, by 347 panellists. Results showed that overweight individuals had significantly lower liking towards LF sensation (4.27±2.13, p= 0.001) but significantly higher liking towards HF sensation (5.26±2.33, p= 0.001), compared to normal BMI individuals who had a significantly higher liking towards LF sensation (5.69±2.35, p= 0.001) but significantly lower liking towards HF sensation (4.17±2.40, p= 0.001). The Pearson product-moment correlation revealed similar trends on the association between liking of fat sensation and eating behaviour regardless of weight statuses. Specifically, cognitive restrainers were found to prefer the LF sensation while HF sensation were more favoured among uncontrolled and emotional eaters. This highlights the importance of investigating the combined effect of psychological aspects of eating behaviour and weight profiles towards liking of fat sensation.

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Interactions of obesity associated behaviours, BMI, age, sex, and FTO genotype

10.7190/shu-thesis-00357 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Hanan Abdella

Keyword(s):

Body Mass ◽

Emotional Eating ◽

Caloric Intake ◽

Eating Behaviour ◽

Eating Behaviours ◽

Related Factors ◽

Food Cravings ◽

Cognitive Restraint ◽

Behavioural Regulation ◽

Uncontrolled Eating

Obesity is a complicated condition which occurs due to interactions between many contributing physiological, psychological and genetic factors. Age, sex and body mass index (BMI) are also important in the interaction with obesity-related factors leading to a rise in this epidemic. Knowledge about the interactions that happen between these factors provides a basis for the development of body mass-reducing interventions for people with obesity. Eating behaviours affect caloric intake and are implicated in the development of obesity. Three types of eating behaviours namely; 1) cognitive restraint, 2) emotional eating and 3) uncontrolled eating have been studied for associations with obesity in various populations. Food cravings refer to an irresistible urge to eat a specific type of food which has been implied to contribute to a loss of control over eating. The experience of food cravings is related to higher BMI and obesity. Motivation to exercise is also an important factor that influences people´s eating habits as shown in previous studies. A taxonomy where motivation is organised in the form of a continuum that covers the different degrees of self-determination of behaviour, from the non-self-determined, to the self-determined, established three types of motivation (amotivation, extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation) and a series of behavioural regulation stages (amotivation, external regulation, introjected regulation, identified regulation and intrinsic regulation). Problems with emotional regulation may contribute to the development and maintenance of abnormal eating behaviour. Alexithymia is defined as an inability to describe and/or recognise one's own emotions and is considered a common feature in eating disorders. Alexithymia is likely to be associated with problems in modulating affect and with difficulties in the interpersonal and social realm. The programme of research as part of this PhD was conducted on 424 volunteers from Sheffield Hallam University students and staff, and there were 183 participants of weight-loss interventions. Eating behaviours were measured using the revised Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R18); food cravings were measured by the food cravings inventory (FCI), motivation for exercise using the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2 (BREQ-2) and alexithymia was measured by The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS 20). DNA samples were genotyped using the TaqMan method for the rs9939609 polymorphism in the obesity-associated gene FTO. Questionnaire data were analysed for associations between the TFEQ-R18 and FCI, BREQ2 and TAS20 subscales for the whole study group, and the group divided by sex, genotype, age (≤ 25 years vs > 25 years) and BMI (<30kg/m² and ≥30kg/m²). Regression and mediation analyses were used to explore the relationships between BMI, eating behaviours, food cravings, motivation to exercise and alexithymia. The key findings from each of the experimental chapters in this thesis is 1) Increased cognitive restraint was associated with decreased food craving scores in the ≤ 25 years group; in this group the association between BMI and reduced food cravings was mediated by cognitive restraint indicating that in this age group individuals use cognitive restraint to control their food cravings. 2) Motivation to exercise interacts with eating behaviours and high motivation to exercise is associated with low BMI, people with obesity were less motivated than non-obese, emotional eating is the mediator between external regulations and high BMI. 3) There is a positive relationship between BMI and alexithymia in females, but in contrast there is an inverse relationship in men. The relationship between BMI and alexithymia was stronger in the AA+ AT genotype group than TT genotype. Uncontrolled eating and emotional eating mediate the effect of alexithymia on BMI and this is different between males and females and between genotype groups; particularly in females with the risk genotype, alexithymia were associated with high uncontrolled eating and emotional eating and so higher BMI. Males and/or people with the TT genotype are less at risk of this influence of alexithymia on BMI. These findings will help in the treatment of obesity by informing personal intervention programmes for each person according to his or her situation.

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Disorganized attachment predicts body mass index via uncontrolled eating

10.31219/osf.io/edf65 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Laura L. Wilkinson ◽

Angela C Rowe ◽

Abigail Millings

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Body Mass ◽

Emotional Eating ◽

Eating Behaviour ◽

Eating Behaviours ◽

Cognitive Restraint ◽

Attachment Orientation ◽

Indirect Relationship ◽

Uncontrolled Eating ◽

First Time

Background/Objectives: Previous research has demonstrated relationships between attachment orientations (expectations of ourselves and others in interpersonal relationships), eating behaviours and obesity. However, such research has been limited to investigations of ‘organised’ forms of attachment orientation (reflecting coherent and predictable patterns of behaviour). Theoretically, aberrant eating behaviours and body mass index, should also be related to ‘disorganised attachment.’ Subjects: Here we test these relationships for the first time in a general population. Secondary data analyses of a pre-existing dataset were conducted (N = 537).Methods used: Questionnaire measures of organised (avoidant and anxious) and disorganised attachment were included alongside eating behaviour measures (emotional eating, uncontrolled eating and cognitive restraint) and body mass index (BMI). Results: Parallel multiple mediation analysis (PROCESS) showed that uncontrolled eating (but not emotional eating or cognitive restraint) significantly mediated a relationship between disorganised attachment and body mass index (significant indirect relationship; LLCI = .02 ULCI = .16) when both attachment anxiety and avoidance were included as covariates. Conclusions: We suggest that the mechanism underpinning this indirect relationship is a form of maladaptive affect regulation, but that the behavioural motivators differ from those observed in attachment anxious individuals. Rather than eating being a premeditated strategy used by individuals high in disorganised attachment to manage emotion, opportunities to eat are simply taken as they present themselves. An extended theoretical model is presented that incorporates, for the first time, both organized and disorganized forms of attachment orientation into our understanding of eating behavior.

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Eating Behaviours and Food Cravings; Influence of Age, Sex, BMI and FTO Genotype

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11020377 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 377 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Hanan Abdella ◽

Hameida El Farssi ◽

David Broom ◽

Dawn Hadden ◽

Caroline Dalton

Keyword(s):

Mediation Analysis ◽

Fast Food ◽

Emotional Eating ◽

Food Craving ◽

Eating Behaviours ◽

Food Cravings ◽

Linked Gene ◽

Cognitive Restraint ◽

Fatty Food ◽

Uncontrolled Eating

Previous studies indicate that eating behaviours and food cravings are associated with increased BMI and obesity. However, the interaction between these behaviours and other variables such as age, sex, BMI and genetics is complex. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between eating behaviours and food cravings, and to examine the influence of age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) genotype on these relationships. A total of 475 participants (252 female, 223 male, BMI: 25.82 ± 6.14 kg/m2, age: 30.65 ± 14.20 years) completed the revised 18-question version of the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R18) to assess cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating, and the Food Cravings Inventory (FCI) to assess cravings for fatty food, sweet food, carbohydrates and fast food. DNA samples were genotyped for the rs9939609 polymorphism in the obesity-linked gene FTO. Questionnaire data was analysed for associations between the TFEQ-R18 and FCI subscales for the whole study group, and the group divided by sex, genotype and age (≤25 years versus >25 years). Finally, mediation analysis was used to explore the relationships between BMI, cognitive restraint and food cravings. FTO AA + AT genotype was associated with increased BMI, but not with differences in eating behavior scores or food craving scores; age was associated with increased BMI and decreases in food craving scores in which this effect was stronger in women compared to men. Increased cognitive restraint was associated with decreased food craving scores in the ≤25 years group. Mediation analysis demonstrated that in this group the association between BMI and reduced food cravings was mediated by cognitive restraint indicating that in this age group individuals use cognitive restraint to control their food cravings. The positive correlation between age and BMI confirms previous results but the findings of this study show that age, sex, FTO genotype and BMI have an influence on the relationships between eating behaviours and food cravings and that these variables interact.

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Waist circumference in 6–12-year-old children: The Health Oriented Pedagogical Project (HOPP)

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1177/1403494818767790 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 46 (21_suppl) ◽

pp. 12-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Per Morten Fredriksen ◽

Angelica Skår ◽

Asgeir Mamen

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Waist Circumference ◽

Central Obesity ◽

Parental Education ◽

Education Level ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Height Ratio ◽

Parental Education Level ◽

Waist To Height Ratio

Aims: With overweight and obesity increasing worldwide, it has become ever more important to monitor the development and distribution of adiposity in children. This study investigated how the measurements of waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in children 6–12 years old relate to earlier studies. Methods: In 2015, 2271 children (boys, n = 1150) were measured for height, weight, and WC. Parental education level was used as a measure of socioeconomic status. Results: A significant increase in WC with age was revealed for both sexes ( p < .0001). Boys at 10 and 12 years had a larger WC than girls; otherwise no difference between sexes was found. The WHtR decreased with age for girls ( p < .0001); 14% of the sample displayed a WHtR ≥ 0.50. Comparison with earlier studies showed a higher WC and WHtR despite no change in weight and body mass index. Conclusion: WC and WHtR are recommended as tools for identifying central obesity in children. The results indicate increased WC in 6–12-year-old children compared with earlier findings.

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Effect of obesity-linked FTO rs9939609 variant on physical activity and dietary patterns in physically active men and women

10.1101/091728 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Nathan R. West ◽

James Dorling ◽

Alice E. Thackray ◽

Samantha E. Decombel ◽

David J. Stensel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Body Mass ◽

Risk Allele ◽

Height Ratio ◽

Physically Active ◽

Men And Women ◽

Cognitive Restraint ◽

Risk Variants ◽

Waist To Height Ratio

AbstractObjectiveTo examine physical activity and dietary patterns in physically active individuals carrying different risk variants of the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) rs9939609 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP).MethodsA total of 528 white men and women (mean (SD): 34.9(9.5) years, 26.6(4.3) kg·m-2) were genotyped for FTO rs9939609 SNP. Sex, age and anthropometric measurements (stature, body mass, waist circumference) were self-reported using an online questionnaire, and body mass index and waist-to-height ratio were calculated. Physical activity level and eating behaviour were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), respectively.ResultsBody mass, body mass index, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio were not significantly different between individuals carrying different FTO rs9939609 risk variants (all P≥0.66). The cohort was physically active (4516(3043) total MET min·week-1), although risk allele carriers (AT/AA) reported higher total physical activity (effect size = 0.22, p=0.03), and homozygous risk allele carriers (AA) displayed higher TFEQ cognitive restraint (effect size = 0.33, p=0.03) compared with non-risk allele carriers (TT).ConclusionsObesity-related parameters were not different in physically active individuals carrying different risk variants of FTO rs9939609, but higher physical activity and cognitive restraint in risk allele carriers may reduce genetic predisposition to weight gain.

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Eating Behavior, Physical Activity and Exercise Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Young Healthy Adults

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12123685 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (12) ◽

pp. 3685

Author(s):

Wendy D. Martinez-Avila ◽

Guillermo Sanchez-Delgado ◽

Francisco M. Acosta ◽

Lucas Jurado-Fasoli ◽

Pauline Oustric ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Binge Eating ◽

Sedentary Behaviour ◽

Emotional Eating ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Eating Behaviour ◽

Healthy Adults ◽

Vigorous Intensity ◽

Uncontrolled Eating

Regular physical activity (PA) is an important part of the treatment of several medical conditions, including overweight and obesity, in which there may be a weakened appetite control. Eating behaviour traits influence weight control and may be different in active and sedentary subjects. This paper reports the relationships between the time spent in sedentary behaviour and physical activity (PA) of different intensity, and eating behaviour traits in young, healthy adults. Additionally, it reports the results of a six-month-long, randomized, controlled trial to examine the effect of an exercise intervention on eating behaviour traits. A total of 139 young (22.06 ± 2.26 years) healthy adults (68.35% women) with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 24.95 ± 4.57 kg/m2 were enrolled. Baseline assessments of habitual PA were made using wrist-worn triaxial accelerometers; eating behaviour traits were examined via the self-reported questionnaires: Binge Eating, Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18 and Control of Eating Questionnaire. The subjects were then randomly assigned to one of three groups: control (usual lifestyle), moderate-intensity exercise (aerobic and resistance training 3¨C4 days/week at a heart rate equivalent to 60% of the heart rate reserve (HRres) for the aerobic component, and at 50% of the 1 repetition maximum (RM) for the resistance component), or vigorous-intensity exercise (the same training but at 80% HRres for half of the aerobic training, and 70% RM for the resistance training). At baseline, sedentary behaviour was inversely associated with binge eating (r = −0.181, p < 0.05) and with uncontrolled eating (r = −0.286, p = 0.001). Moderate PA (MPA) was inversely associated with craving control (r = −0.188, p < 0.05). Moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) was directly associated with binge eating (r = 0.302, p < 0.001) and uncontrolled eating (r = 0.346, p < 0.001), and inversely associated with craving control (r = −0.170, p < 0.015). Overall, PA was directly associated with binge eating (r = 0.275, p = 0.001), uncontrolled eating (r = 0.321, p < 0.001) and emotional eating (r = 0.204, p < 0.05). Additionally, only emotional eating was modified by the intervention, increasing in the vigorous-intensity exercise group (p < 0.05). In summary, we observed that time spent in sedentary behaviour/PA of different intensity is associated with eating behaviour traits, especially binge eating in young adults. In contrast, the six-month exercise intervention did not lead to appreciable changes in eating behaviour traits.

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Obesity susceptibility loci and uncontrolled eating, emotional eating and cognitive restraint behaviors in men and women

Obesity ◽

10.1002/oby.20592 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 22 (5) ◽

pp. E135-E141 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

Marilyn C. Cornelis ◽

Eric B. Rimm ◽

Gary C. Curhan ◽

Peter Kraft ◽

David J. Hunter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emotional Eating ◽

Susceptibility Loci ◽

Men And Women ◽

Cognitive Restraint ◽

Obesity Susceptibility ◽

Uncontrolled Eating

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Changes over time in the relationship between weight, body fat, motivation, impulsivity and eating behaviour

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11402-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Paula Foscarini-Craggs ◽

Rob Lowe ◽

Michelle Lee

Keyword(s):

Body Fat ◽

Emotional Eating ◽

Weight Maintenance ◽

Physical Appearance ◽

Eating Behaviour ◽

Eating Styles ◽

Key Variables ◽

Appearance Comparison ◽

Uncontrolled Eating ◽

Over Time

Abstract Background University students are at a greater risk of gaining weight compared to others. We explored associations between changes in weight and a set of dispositional constructs related to eating behaviour: motivation, impulsivity, social comparison, and eating styles. We predicted that increases in controlled motivation, impulsivity, uncontrolled eating, emotional eating, and physical appearance comparison would be related to increased weight and body fat. Methods First year students at a British university completed baseline (n = 196) and three-month (n = 163) measures of impulsivity, physical appearance comparison, motivation for following a healthy diet, eating styles, weight and body fat. Baseline-follow-up changes in these constructs were computed and subjected to cluster analysis. Results Four participant groups were identified according to similarities in the way these constructs evolved over time. The Losing and Gaining groups tended to show opposing changes in key variables (physical appearance comparison, uncontrolled eating, motivation, weight, and percentage of body fat). Interestingly, two groups showed no change in weight and body fat but evidenced unique changes in key variables, indicating that individuals can have different psychological profiles but still maintain their weight. Conclusions The study highlighted how stable weight maintenance arises from sets of interdependent constructs rather than variables in isolation, as well as emphasizing a need to take a person-centred approach to examining those at risk of weight gain and in developing interventions.

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