Factors associated with emotional eating in female college students
ISSN: 0034-6659
Article publication date: 3 June 2024
Issue publication date: 2 July 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Emotions affect food intake and food choice. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the relationship between sociodemographic factors, eating habits and anthropometric measurements and negative and positive emotional eating.
Design/methodology/approach
This cross-sectional study was conducted with 343 female college students 18–24 years of age. Data were collected using the Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EMAQ). Anthropometric measurements were obtained (height, weight, triceps skinfold thickness, neck, mid-upper arm, waist and hip circumference). Sociodemographic factors and lifestyle and eating habits were questioned. Generalized linear models were used to identify each EMAQ score.
Findings
While high body mass index (BMI) was associated with high negative emotional eating scores, low BMI was related to high positive emotional/situation eating scores (p < 0.01). There was no relationship between waist circumferences (p = 0.09), triceps skinfold thickness (p = 0.09) and negative emotional eating. Participants consuming vegetables and fruit = 5 portions/day had higher negative emotional eating scores, regardless of BMI (p = 0.04). Smokers (p < 0.01) and participants doing regular physical activity (p = 0.02) had lower positive emotional eating scores.
Research limitations/implications
Negative emotional eating was related to higher BMI but not adiposity. Active female participants were less likely to eat in response to positive emotions.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies examining positive emotion scores from many aspects. The authors also investigated the association between emotional eating and anthropometric measurements by using different methods, including neck and mid-upper arm circumference and triceps skinfold thickness.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank all participants.
Supplementary files will be available with the corresponding author upon request.
Declaration of conflicting interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Funding: This research was supported by [removed for double blinding] Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (Project no 16H0241003).
Author contributions declaration: MEÖ, conceived the research, conducted the analysis, contributed to the manuscript development and preparation. HÖY, designed the manuscript and conceived the research. NTE, designed the manuscript and conceived the research. GD, designed the manuscript and conceived the research. ÇSM, designed the manuscript and conceived the research. NYA designed the manuscript and contributed to the manuscript development and preparation. The authors agree with the manuscript and declare that the content has not been published elsewhere.
Citation
Öztürk, M.E., Yılmaz, H.Ö., Tokaç Er, N., Doğan, G., Meriç, Ç.S. and Yabancı Ayhan, N. (2024), "Factors associated with emotional eating in female college students", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 54 No. 5, pp. 951-968. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-10-2023-0233
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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