Emotional eating, food cravings, and metabolic markers in overweight adults

IF 0.3 Q4 NUTRITION & DIETETICS

CAHIERS DE NUTRITION ET DE DIETETIQUE Pub Date : 2026-08-01 Epub Date: 2026-09-24 DOI:10.1016/j.cnd.2026.08.094

Gustavo Braga, Kamile Abreu Inacio, Mayla Grifo de Souza, Shaiane Berçan Vittorazzi, Fabiana de Cássia Carvalho Oliveira, André Gustavo Vasconcelos Costa, Mirelle Lomar Viana, Maria das Graças Vaz Tostes

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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the associations between emotional eating (EE) and food craving (FC) with hormonal markers (cortisol and insulin) and body composition indicators (BMI and visceral fat level) in adults with overweight or obesity.

Methods

This is an exploratory cross-sectional observational study with preliminary results from a larger dataset. Twenty-three overweight adults were evaluated. Participants completed the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQR21) and the Food Craving Questionnaire-State (FCQ-S), and underwent anthropometric assessment, biochemical tests, and bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody®). Physical and mental stress levels were self reported by participants on a four-category scale (low, moderate, high, and very high). Statistical analyses were performed using Stata software. Data normality was assessed by the Shapiro-Wilk test. Correlations were estimated using Pearson's coefficient, and comparisons between independent groups were performed by oneway ANOVA. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. This study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee under protocol number No. 7.357.997.

Results

The mean ± standard deviation EE score was 50.7 ± 32.1 and FC score was 40.1 ± 11.1. The sample had a mean BMI of 33.4 ± 7.2 kg/m², visceral fat level of 17.8 ± 5.6 (InBody score), mean insulin of 12.9 ± 10.6 μIU/mL, and mean cortisol of 12.6 ± 5.3 mcg/dL. No statistically significant correlations were observed between FC and insulin (P = 0.13), cortisol (P = 0.37), visceral fat level (P = 0.54), or BMI (P = 0.84). Similarly, no significant correlations were found between EE and insulin (P = 0.25), cortisol (P = 0.89), visceral fat level (P = 0.82), or BMI (P = 0.69). However, self-reported stress levels were significantly associated with EE (P = 0,021), with progressively higher scores as perceived stress intensity increased.

Conclusions

The results indicate an absence of statistically significant correlations between the metabolic markers assessed with EE and FC in this preliminary sample. The observed association between perceived stress and EE reinforces the importance of incorporating behavioral strategies into personalized nutritional therapy for individuals with excess body weight.

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情绪化进食、对食物的渴望和超重成年人的代谢指标

目的探讨超重或肥胖成人的情绪性进食（EE）和食物渴望（FC）与激素指标（皮质醇和胰岛素）和身体成分指标（BMI和内脏脂肪水平）的关系。本研究旨在探讨超重或肥胖成人的情绪性进食（EE）和食物渴望（FC）与激素标志物（皮质醇和胰岛素）和身体成分指标（BMI和内脏脂肪水平）之间的关系。方法这是一项探索性的横断面观察性研究，其初步结果来自更大的数据集。对23名超重的成年人进行了评估。参与者完成了三因素进食问卷（TFEQR21）和食物渴望状况问卷（FCQ-S），并进行了人体测量评估、生化测试和生物电阻抗分析（InBody®）。参与者自我报告的身体和精神压力水平分为四类（低、中、高和非常高）。采用Stata软件进行统计分析。采用Shapiro-Wilk检验评估数据的正态性。相关性采用Pearson系数估计，独立组间比较采用单因素方差分析。P <； 0.05为统计学意义。本研究已由人类研究伦理委员会批准，协议号为7.357.997。这是一项探索性的横断面观察研究，初步结果来自更大的数据集。对23名超重的成年人进行了评估。参与者完成了三因素进食问卷（TFEQR21）和食物渴望状况问卷（FCQ-S），并进行了人体测量评估、生化测试和生物电阻抗分析（InBody®）。参与者自我报告的身体和精神压力水平分为四类（低、中、高和非常高）。采用Stata软件进行统计分析。采用Shapiro-Wilk检验评估数据的正态性。相关性采用Pearson系数估计，独立组间比较采用单因素方差分析。P <； 0.05为统计学意义。本研究已由人类研究伦理委员会批准，协议号为7.357.997。结果EE评分的平均±标准差为50.7±32.1，FC评分为40.1±11.1。样本的平均BMI为33.4±7.2 kg/m2，内脏脂肪水平为17.8±5.6 （InBody评分），平均胰岛素为12.9±10.6 μIU/mL，平均皮质醇为12.6±5.3 mcg/dL。FC与胰岛素（P = 0.13）、皮质醇（P = 0.37）、内脏脂肪水平（P = 0.54）或BMI （P = 0.84）之间无统计学意义的相关性。同样，EE与胰岛素（P = 0.25）、皮质醇（P = 0.89）、内脏脂肪水平（P = 0.82）或BMI （P = 0.69）之间没有显著相关性。然而，自我报告的压力水平与情感表达显著相关（P = 0.021），随着感知压力强度的增加，得分逐渐提高。平均±标准差EE评分为50.7±32.1，FC评分为40.1±11.1。样本的平均BMI为33.4±7.2 kg/m2，内脏脂肪水平为17.8±5.6 （InBody评分），平均胰岛素为12.9±10.6 μIU/mL，平均皮质醇为12.6±5.3 mcg/dL。FC与胰岛素（P = 0.13）、皮质醇（P = 0.37）、内脏脂肪水平（P = 0.54）或BMI （P = 0.84）之间无统计学意义的相关性。同样，EE与胰岛素（P = 0.25）、皮质醇（P = 0.89）、内脏脂肪水平（P = 0.82）或BMI （P = 0.69）之间没有显著相关性。然而，自我报告的压力水平与情感表达显著相关（P = 0.021），随着感知压力强度的增加，得分逐渐提高。结论在初步样本中，用EE和FC评估的代谢标志物之间没有统计学意义上的相关性。观察到的感知压力和情感表达之间的联系，强化了将行为策略纳入对超重个体的个性化营养治疗的重要性。结果表明，在这个初步样本中，用EE和FC评估的代谢标志物之间没有统计学上显著的相关性。观察到的感知压力和情感表达之间的联系，强化了将行为策略纳入对超重个体的个性化营养治疗的重要性。

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来源期刊

CAHIERS DE NUTRITION ET DE DIETETIQUE NUTRITION & DIETETICS-

CiteScore

0.60

自引率

33.30%

发文量

审稿时长

65 days

期刊介绍： Les Cahiers de nutrition et de diététique sont le lieu de communication reconnu pour les médecins spécialistes de la nutrition, les diététiciens, les professionnels et les chercheurs de agro-alimentaire, les enseignants et les étudiants. Les Cahiers de nutrition et de diététique abordent les sujets se rapportant à la biologie générale, à la médecine et à la nutrition, aux aliments, aux comportements alimentaires, à la diététique pratique, ainsi que des thèmes variés : activité physique, apports nutritionnels conseillés, dénutrition, alcool, obésité de enfant, aliments à effet santé, plaisir alimentaire, restauration collective, goûters et collations, allergies alimentaires...