Exploring the relationship between body neutrality and eating behaviors: A focus on intuitive and restrained eating

Body neutrality is an alternative to body positivity that deemphasizes appearance and encourages functionality appreciation. Past research has found similar concepts, such as positive body image and functionality appreciation, to be positively associated with intuitive eating and negatively associated with restrained eating; however, no past research has analyzed the distinct concept of body neutrality and its relationship with eating behaviors. Two hundred and twenty-one (n = 221) undergraduate students completed the Body Neutrality Scale, the Intuitive Eating Scale-2, the Restraint subscale of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, and the Body Appreciation Scale-2. Correlations revealed positive associations between body neutrality and body appreciation, total intuitive eating scores, and intuitive eating subscale scores, while a negative association was found between body neutrality and restrained eating. Multiple regression analysis revealed that body appreciation was a more consistent predictor of intuitive eating, but body neutrality was a unique predictor of restrained eating. Using moderation analyses and the Johnson-Neyman technique, it was found that greater body neutrality was associated with greater unconditional permission to eat for women, but not for men. Overall, these findings suggest that body neutrality is positively associated with intuitive eating, negatively associated with restrained eating, and differs from body appreciation in their correlations with eating behaviors. Future research could benefit from focusing on body neutrality to better understand how this aspect of body image is associated with other variables and how it can be utilized in eating disorder treatment or improving mental health outcomes.