Associations Between Intuitive Eating Behaviors and Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among College Students

To assess associations between intuitive eating behaviors and fruit and vegetable intake among college students.

Intuitive eating behaviors were measured with the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), which reports a total and 4 subscale scores. Fruit and vegetable intake was measured with the National Institutes of Health Eating at America's Table Fruit and Vegetable screener. Questionnaires were completed online.

Median age of participants was 20 years (n = 293; n = 72 male). Total IES-2 score was not correlated with fruit and vegetable intake. Body-Food Choice Congruence and Eating for Physical Rather Than Emotional Reasons subscales were positively associated with fruit and vegetable intake (r = .462, P < .001 and r = .177, P = .002, respectively). The Unconditional Permission to Eat subscale was negatively associated with fruit and vegetable intake (r = -.308, P < .001).

Correlations between fruit and vegetable intake and intuitive eating behaviors differed by IES-2 subscale scores. If IES-2 is used in nutrition research, education, or counseling with the aim of increasing fruit and vegetable intake, addressing subscale behaviors individually might be considered.