Testing the acceptance model of intuitive eating for explaining intuitive eating dimensions and sex differences in Chinese adults

Abstract

The acceptance model of intuitive eating posits that unconditional acceptance and body acceptance by others foster functionality appreciation and body appreciation, which, in turn, promote intuitive eating. Although the model has been tested and supported in many empirical studies, most have focused on female adults in Western contexts and treated the multidimensional construct of intuitive eating as a global construct. Consequently, it remains unclear whether the model applies to both male and female adults or whether the model explains different variances in the distinct dimensions of intuitive eating, particularly in non-Western contexts (e.g., China). Thus, the present study aimed to address these gaps by testing the model in a sample of Chinese male (N = 377) and female (N = 355) adults and by applying the model to explain the four distinct dimensions of intuitive eating (i.e., Unconditional Permission to Eat [UPE], Eating for Physical Rather Than Emotional Reasons [EPR], Reliance on Hunger and Satiety Cues [RHSC], and Body-Food Choice Congruence [BFCC]). Path analysis was conducted to evaluate the model for male and female adults and test sex differences. Results showed adequate fit for both male and female adults. Specifically, in both male and female adults, unconditional acceptance was positively related to body acceptance from others. Body acceptance by others was positively associated with body appreciation. Emphasis on body function was positively correlated with some intuitive eating dimensions. Significant sex differences were identified in the path from unconditional acceptance to BFCC. The findings suggest that the acceptance model of intuitive eating operates uniquely in Chinese male and female adults and offer insights for future research to enhance the model and interventions related to intuitive eating in the Chinese context.