Ethnic identity, body appreciation, and intuitive eating in a national sample of U.S. adults

Abstract

Current research on eating behaviors and body image has shifted from an emphasis on disordered eating and body dissatisfaction to a broader approach that incorporates adaptive eating and positive body image. This study explored the direct relationships among body appreciation, intuitive eating, and ethnic identity in a representative sample of U.S. participants, while also examining whether ethnic identity moderated the link between body appreciation and intuitive eating. A total of 1018 U.S. adults were recruited through Qualtrics to complete an online survey. Zero-order Pearson correlations were used to analyze the direct relationships among the variables, and multiple regression was conducted to investigate the potential moderating role of ethnic identity. The findings revealed that higher levels of body appreciation were associated with greater intuitive eating, aligning with previous research and confirming this relationship within a representative U.S. sample. Furthermore, individuals with a stronger ethnic identity tended to have a slightly more positive body image and engage in intuitive eating. However, ethnic identity did not moderate the relationship between body appreciation and intuitive eating. These results highlight the importance of promoting body appreciation as a means to foster healthier eating behaviors across diverse groups. Future studies with larger and more diverse samples are needed to further examine how ethnic identity relates to body image and eating behaviors across different racial and ethnic groups. Despite its limitations, this research underscores the potential benefits of body appreciation in improving individuals' relationships with food, regardless of their background.