Exploring the Interplay between Emotional Eating, Eating Behavior Traits, and Disordered Eating Behavior in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Emotional eating is a significant global concern that is closely associated with weight-related outcomes in both adolescents and adults, and it often serves as a precursor to more severe eating disorders. Disordered eating behaviors are well known as important risk factors contributing to weight gain and the growth of full-syndrome eating disorders in different populations. Furthermore, eating behavior traits exhibit potential as indicators capable of recognizing tendencies towards extreme food consumption. However, previous studies have revealed separate links between emotional eating and disordered eating behavior in adults, and despite the moderating role of eating behavior traits in separate studies, the broad investigation of their combined relationship remains unexplored, and this topic is open for further debate.

Method: The study was conducted using the purposive sampling technique and a cross-sectional research design. Two hundred adults (males, n = 76; females, n = 124), whose ages ranged from 18 to 35 (M = 21.5, SD = 7.02) years, were recruited from various public and private universities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan, from August 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023. Three standard psychological instruments were employed to assess emotional eating behavior, disordered eating behavior, and eating behavior traits in adults.

Results: This study explored the correlation and moderation effects of emotional eating and disordered eating behavior in adults. The findings exposed a significant positive association between emotional eating disorder, eating behavior traits, and disordered eating behavior. However, young adults who were overweight or obese exhibited more inclinedness towards emotional eating and eating behavior traits as compared to an underweight or normal weight. Moreover, food preferences did not significantly predict eating behavior traits or disordered eating behavior. Additionally, eating behavior traits did not act as moderators between emotional eating and disordered eating behavior in adults.

Conclusions: The present study highlights the importance of understanding the interplay between emotional eating, eating behavior traits, and disordered eating behavior in adults. These results have implications for prevention and interventions targeting disordered eating and highlight the dire need for multifaceted approaches to address and comprehend emotional eating and related behaviors in Pakistani adults.