A recent study published in the International Journal of Obesity highlights how anxiety contributes to emotional eating and subsequent weight gain. Researchers examined data from 7,388 adults over four years to understand the relationship between emotional eating, body dissatisfaction, and changes in body mass index (BMI).
The study found that financial hardship not only leads to reduced physical activity but also increases emotional eating. Using structural equation models, researchers identified that emotional eating and body dissatisfaction independently mediate negative health outcomes. Specifically, emotional eating was found to partially mediate the link between baseline anxiety and depressive symptoms with increases in BMI. In addition, body dissatisfaction and self-rated health were found to mediate the relationship between rising BMI and declines in overall quality of life.
Interestingly, the study noted that changes in BMI were not linked to anxiety and depressive symptoms at follow-up when controlling for baseline mental health. Instead, these changes were associated with increased body dissatisfaction and lower quality of life. The connection between emotional eating and BMI changes was particularly pronounced among women and those with low levels of physical activity.
The study suggests a bidirectional relationship where emotional eating and body dissatisfaction contribute to BMI increases, which in turn adversely affect mental health and quality of life. This cyclical pattern underscores the importance of addressing both emotional and physical health in obesity prevention strategies.
Moreover, self-rated health emerged as a hidden factor influencing perceptions of health. As BMI worsened, participants’ self-assessment of their health declined, which further impacted their quality of life.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity remains a pressing public health issue, with the World Health Organization projecting that by 2025, 20% of the global population will be affected. Currently, over 1 billion people are estimated to live with a high BMI, often facing chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Mental health also poses a significant challenge, with approximately 970 million individuals worldwide suffering from anxiety or depression. Previous studies have established a reciprocal relationship between obesity and poor mental health, yet this research fills a gap by focusing on the psychosocial factors like emotional eating and body dissatisfaction.
The data for this study was collected from the Specchio cohort, part of a digital follow-up of participants from a COVID-19 serosurvey in Geneva, Switzerland. The cohort began in December 2020, involving 13,260 individuals who provided height and weight information. Researchers noted that increased screen time correlated with a BMI rise of 0.2 kg/m² per extra hour daily, highlighting the influence of lifestyle factors on weight.
This study emphasizes the need for integrated approaches to tackle obesity and mental health, focusing on emotional well-being and self-perception to improve health outcomes.
