Relationships between Eating Styles and Body Mass Index in Women: A Moderating Role of Positive Eating

Introduction: First, we investigated the relationships between eating styles (cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating) and body mass index (BMI) in women. Second, we aimed to explore whether positive eating serves as a protective factor in the relationships between eating styles and BMI.

The sample comprised 404 women recruited via online surveys who completed: the Positive Eating Scale, the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, the sociodemographic survey. Data collection was independent.

First, we found that in women cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating are all positively related to BMI. Second, as predicted, we demonstrated the effect of positive eating as a moderator in the relationship between emotional eating style and uncontrolled eating style and BMI. Specifically, in women with average and low levels of positive eating, positive relationships between emotional eating and BMI, as well as uncontrolled eating and BMI were more pronounced. The effect of positive eating on the relationship between cognitive restraint and BMI was opposite to the expected.

Our preliminary conclusions may suggest that food positivity should not be placed on the same continuum with unhealthy eating behaviours as its opposite end of the continuum. As a distinct construct, it may serve as a protective factor and strengthening a positive attitude towards food may possibly reduce the negative impact of unhealthy eating styles on individuals' BMI and, in turn, on health and well-being. It would be beneficial to verify these assumptions in future research.