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Characteristics of young adult male and female emotional eaters
Author(s) -
Melanson Kathleen,
Greene Geoffrey
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.lb264
Subject(s) - demography , medicine , psychological intervention , analysis of variance , weight gain , significant difference , body weight , gender gap , psychology , gerontology , psychiatry , sociology , economics , demographic economics
Emotional eating (EmE) is associated with excess energy intake and BMI. Male (n=210, BMI=24±4, 20±4 y) and female (n=571, BMI=23±5, 19±3 y) respondents to an online survey were divided into tertiles of the EmE scale of the Weight‐Related Eating Questionnaire. Responses to other survey items were compared by 3‐way ANOVA or ×2. Males in the highest EmE tertile had higher BMI (p=.03) and gap between desired & reported weight (p=.001) than the lowest tertile. There was no difference in eating pace, fruit and vegetable intake (F&V), nor importance or effort of achieving desired weight. Females in the highest EmE tertile had significantly higher BMI (p<0.001), weight gap (p<0.001), eating pace (p=0.001), importance of weight change (p=0.01), and effort (p=0.03), but no difference in F&V. For both genders, the highest EmE tertiles had higher cognitive restraint and susceptibility to external cues (both p<.001) and desire to lose weight (2.5 lbs males, 16.0 lbs females) than the lowest. In the lowest EmE tertiles males desired to gain 8.2lb and females to lose 8.8lb showing gender differences in young adults who are not emotional eaters. Interventions should account for gender similarities and differences.