Factors affecting emotional eating and eating palatable food in adults

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship among emotional eating behavior, tendency to eat palatable foods, and several risk factors. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study was carried out on 2,434 persons (1,736 women and 698 men) aged between 19 and 64 years. A questionnaire form was used as a data collection tool, which consisted of items for the socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EMAQ), and the Palatable Eating Motives Scale (PEMS). A one unit increase in BMI increased the coping motives scores by 0.077 units. CONCLUSIONS: The emotional states have a significant effect on the eating behavior. On the other hand, an increase in eating attacks was observed, particularly in people who were under the effect of a negative emotion or situation. Nevertheless, there were some limitations of the study in terms of quantitative determination of the effects of this eating behavior depending on the BMI.