Heterogeneous patterns of restrained eating in young women: A latent profile and network analysis

Restrained eating, characterized by persistent and relatively stable subjective intention and behavioral tendency to restrict calories, is prevalent among young women and has commonly been linked to adverse health outcomes. Its heterogeneity and psychological correlates remain underexplored. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the categories and characteristics of restrained eating in a community student-based sample of young women. A total of 506 participants completed six scales assessing restrained eating, appearance perfectionism, body shame, body surveillance, media exposure, and media internalization. Latent profile analysis identified three distinct subgroups: low restrained eating (25 %), moderate restrained eating (46 %), and high restrained eating (29 %). Network analysis further revealed distinct patterns in the relationships between appearance perfectionism and body-related factors. In the low restrained eating subgroup, the correlation between appearance perfectionism and body shame was notably weaker compared to the moderate subgroup. Furthermore, the moderate restrained eating subgroup exhibited a stronger association between appearance perfectionism and body surveillance than the high restrained eating subgroup. Finally, the correlation between appearance perfectionism and media internalization was more pronounced in the high restrained eating subgroup than in the low and moderate subgroups. These findings highlight the need for tailored prevention and intervention strategies to address restrained eating behaviors, which can have a profound impact on improving both the mental and physical health of young women.