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Emotional Eating in Adults: The Role of Sociodemographics, Lifestyle Behaviors, and Self-Regulation—Findings from a U.S. National Study

Author

Listed:
  • Roni Elran Barak

    (School of Public Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
    Drs. Elran Barak and Shuval share first authorship.)

  • Kerem Shuval

    (School of Public Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
    The Cooper Institute, Dallas, TX 75230, USA
    Drs. Elran Barak and Shuval share first authorship.)

  • Qing Li

    (American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA)

  • Reid Oetjen

    (Department of Health Management & Informatics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA)

  • Jeffrey Drope

    (School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA)

  • Amy L. Yaroch

    (Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, Omaha, NE 68114, USA)

  • Bob M. Fennis

    (Department of Marketing, University of Groningen, 9747AE Groningen, The Netherlands)

  • Matthew Harding

    (Department of Economics, University of California- Irvine, Irvine, CA 92617, USA)

Abstract

Background: Emotional eating, the tendency to overeat in response to negative emotions, has been linked to weight gain. However, scant evidence exists examining the prevalence and correlates of emotional eating among large samples of adults in the United States (U.S.). Hence, we examine the relationship among individual and socioeconomic factors, health behaviors, and self-regulation with emotional eating patterns among U.S. adults. Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 5863 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) and 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% confidence interval (CI) 1.05–1.33) for emotional eating. Finally, emotional eating was significantly related to more frequent fast-food consumption. 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 goal of obesity and chronic disease prevention.

Suggested Citation

  • Roni Elran Barak & Kerem Shuval & Qing Li & Reid Oetjen & Jeffrey Drope & Amy L. Yaroch & Bob M. Fennis & Matthew Harding, 2021. "Emotional Eating in Adults: The Role of Sociodemographics, Lifestyle Behaviors, and Self-Regulation—Findings from a U.S. National Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1744-:d:497554
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Glenn W. Harrison & Morten I. Lau & Melonie B. Williams, 2002. "Estimating Individual Discount Rates in Denmark: A Field Experiment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 92(5), pages 1606-1617, December.
    2. de Oliveira, Angela C.M. & Leonard, Tammy C.M. & Shuval, Kerem & Skinner, Celette Sugg & Eckel, Catherine & Murdoch, James C., 2016. "Economic preferences and obesity among a low-income African American community," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 131(PB), pages 196-208.
    3. Stoklosa, Michal & Shuval, Kerem & Drope, Jeffrey & Tchernis, Rusty & Pachucki, Mark & Yaroch, Amy & Harding, Matthew, 2018. "The intergenerational transmission of obesity: The role of time preferences and self-control," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 92-106.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anca Bacârea & Vladimir Constantin Bacârea & Florin Buicu & Călin Crăciun & Bianca Kosovski & Raquel Guiné & Monica Tarcea, 2023. "Emotional Eating Sustainability in Romania—A Questionnaire-Based Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-10, February.
    2. Clare Meernik & Qing Li & Jeffrey Drope & Ce Shang & Tammy Leonard & Bob M. Fennis & Mahmoud Qadan & Carolyn E. Barlow & Laura F. DeFina & Reid Oetjen & Loretta DiPietro & Kerem Shuval, 2024. "The Association between Psychological and Behavioral Economic Factors and the Rapid Assessment Disuse Index (RADI) during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(8), pages 1-10, August.
    3. Hyo-Jeong Hwang & Yean-Jung Choi & Dongwan Hong, 2022. "The Association between Self-Rated Health Status, Psychosocial Stress, Eating Behaviors, and Food Intake According to the Level of Sunlight Exposure in Korean Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-13, December.

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