Evaluation of emotional eating and selected cardiometabolic risk indicators among hospitalized older adults: a cross-sectional study

Although emotional eating has been widely studied in younger and community-dwelling adult populations, evidence regarding its association with anthropometric, biochemical, and selected cardiometabolic risk indicators among hospitalized older adults remains limited. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify factors associated with emotional eating among hospitalized older adults, with particular emphasis on selected cardiometabolic risk indicators. This cross-sectional study included 300 adults aged 65 years and older. Sociodemographic, anthropometric (body mass index [BMI], waist-to-hip ratio [WHR]), and biochemical measurements (high-density lipoprotein [HDL], blood glucose, creatinine) were collected. Emotional eating behaviors were assessed using the Emotional Eating Scale (EES). Associations between emotional eating and related variables were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Of the participants, 58.3% were overweight or obese. Low HDL cholesterol (< 45 mg/dL) and elevated blood glucose (> 109 mg/dL), based on the hospital laboratory reference ranges, were each observed in 51.7% of participants. In the multivariable linear regression analysis, younger age (B = − 0.171, 95% CI: −0.308 to − 0.034; p = 0.015), alcohol consumption (B = − 4.347, 95% CI: −8.422 to − 0.271; p = 0.037), and lipid-lowering medication use (B = − 4.309, 95% CI: −7.251 to − 1.366; p = 0.004) were independently associated with higher emotional eating scores, whereas elevated creatinine levels (B = 2.598, 95% CI: 0.295 to 4.900; p = 0.027) were associated with lower emotional eating scores. The main associations remained consistent in a sensitivity analysis additionally adjusting for income status. Emotional eating among hospitalized older adults was independently associated with age, alcohol consumption, lipid-lowering medication use, and elevated creatinine levels, with elevated creatinine being associated with lower emotional eating scores. In contrast, no statistically significant associations were observed between emotional eating and the conventional anthropometric and cardiometabolic indicators examined, including BMI, waist circumference, WHR, blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. These findings suggest that emotional eating may be related to selected sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics rather than to a broad cardiometabolic risk profile. Clinical trial number: not applicable.