The moderating effect of emotional eating behaviour on body fat percentage in women

Obesity is a global health problem where emotional eating, linked to impulsivity, significantly complicates prevention efforts. This study examined the direct effects of emotional eating on body fat percentage and whether emotional eating moderates the relationship between lipid parameters and body fat percentage in women seeking obesity counselling.

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 271 women who applied for counselling on obesity and healthy eating. Body fat was measured by the bioelectrical impedance method. Direct and indirect effects of emotional eating behaviour on body fat content were examined.

The mean age of 271 women included in our study was 38.2 ± 11.4 years, among them the rate of “emotional” and of “very emotional” eaters was 53.1% and 12.2%. HDL levels were lower; LDL levels were higher in “very emotional” eaters. There was a positive correlation between emotional eating and blood triglyceride or HbA1c values, and a negative correlation with HDL or physical activity level. Emotional eating level was determined as an important moderator in the relationship between blood cholesterol and LDL values or body fat percentage. In multivariate linear regression analysis, it was found that a one-unit increase in cholesterol, and HbA1c, was associated with a 0.057-unit, and 3.158-unit increase in body fat level, respectively, while a one-unit increase in HDL was associated with a 0.128-unit decrease in body fat level.

LDL and triglyceride levels were higher in patients with higher levels of emotional eating, which was also determined as an important moderator affecting the relationship between body fat percentage and total cholesterol or LDL blood levels, in a strengthening (increasing) way.