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Psychosocial predictors of emotional eating and their weight-loss treatment-induced changes in women with obesity

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed at assessing whether psychosocial predictors of controlled eating and weight loss also predict emotional eating, and how differing weight-loss treatment methods affect those variables.

Methods

Women with obesity (M = 47.8 ± 7.9 years; BMI = 35.4 ± 3.3 kg/m2) were randomized into groups of either phone-supported self-help (Self-Help; n = 50) or in-person contact (Personal Contact; n = 53) intended to increase exercise, improve eating behaviors, and reduce weight over 6 months.

Results

A multiple regression analysis indicated that at baseline mood, self-regulating eating, body satisfaction, and eating-related self-efficacy significantly predicted emotional eating (R 2 = 0.35), with mood and self-efficacy as independent predictors. Improvements over 6 months on each psychosocial measure were significantly greater in the Personal Contact group. Changes in mood, self-regulation, body satisfaction, and self-efficacy significantly predicted emotional eating change (R 2 = 0.38), with all variables except self-regulation change being an independent predictor. Decreased emotional eating was significantly associated with weight loss.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that weight-loss interventions should target specific psychosocial factors to improve emotional eating. The administration of cognitive-behavioral methods through personal contact might be more beneficial for those improvements than self-help formats.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia

    James J. Annesi & Nicole Mareno

  2. YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta, 100 Edgewood Avenue NE, Suite 1100, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA

    James J. Annesi & Kristin McEwen

Authors
  1. James J. Annesi
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  2. Nicole Mareno
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  3. Kristin McEwen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to James J. Annesi.

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For this study the authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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The authors certify that this research complied with ethical standards consistent with the Helsinki declaration.

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Institutional review board approval and written informed consent from each participant was received.

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Annesi, J.J., Mareno, N. & McEwen, K. Psychosocial predictors of emotional eating and their weight-loss treatment-induced changes in women with obesity. Eat Weight Disord 21, 289–295 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-015-0209-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-015-0209-9

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