Cognitive restraint, emotional eating and uncontrolled eating: Exploring factors associated with the cycle of behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Costa, Marcela Larissa; Costa, Maycon George Oliveira; de Souza, Márcia Ferreira Cândido; da Silva, Danielle Góes; dos Santos Vieira, Diva Aliete; Mendes-Netto, Raquel Simões
• Is Part Of: Food quality and preference. Volume 100(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: Eating behavior -- COVID-19 -- Eating habits -- Body image; Food preferences -- Periodicals; Food -- Quality -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Préférences alimentaires -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Qualité -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Qualité -- Contrôle -- Périodiques; Food industry and trade -- Quality control; Food preferences; Food -- Quality; Periodicals; 664
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2022.104579
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-3293

Abstract

Highlights: Dysfunctional eating behaviors are present during the pandemic. Dysfunctional eating behaviors were associated with a negative body image. Cognitive restraint was associated with a healthy lifestyle and eating habits. Emotional eating and uncontrolled eating were associated with unhealthy lifestyles and eating habits. The cycle of restriction and disinhibition can lead to unhealthy food consumption. Abstract: The objective of this study was to analyze the factors associated with Cognitive Restraint, Emotional Eating, and Uncontrolled Eating behaviors with perceptions of life habits, body image, eating habits, and food consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sociodemographic data, eating behavior, perceptions about life and eating habits, body image, and food consumption were collected. Factors associated with each of the three eating behaviors were accessed through three multiple linear regressions controlled for age, sex, BMI, education level, and monthly income. Cognitive restraint was associated with being active during the pandemic (β = 5.85), attempted weight loss (β = 11.89), perception of overweight (β = 9.10), better eating habits in the pandemic (β = 6.55), and decreased consumption of refined cereals (β = 5.60) and fast foods (β = 8.23). Emotional eating was associated with increased stress during the pandemic (β = 7.10), worse sleep (β = 4.74), body dissatisfaction (β = 4.85), perception of overweight (β = 7.45), attempted weight loss (β = 4.19), increase in the amount of food consumed (β = 9.34), increased food delivery purchase (β = 5.13), increase in consumption of sweets and desserts (β = 7.17) and reduction in consumption of vegetables (β=- 5.26). Uncontrolled eating was associated with working>8 h/day (β = 4.04), increased stress during the pandemic (β = 3.65), body dissatisfaction (β = 6.59), worse eating habits in the pandemic (β = 5.21), and an increase in the amount of food consumed (β = 8.73). Cognitive restraint behavior was associated with healthy life habits and negative body image variables. In contrast, emotional eating and uncontrolled eating were associated with negative body image and unhealthy eating habits.