Clarifying the relationship between intuitive eating, mindful eating, and maladaptive eating: A factor analytic study

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Nutrition Science
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Diverse adaptive and maladaptive eating behaviors exist, necessitating research into their interrelationships.
• Understanding the underlying structure of eating behaviors is crucial for addressing wellbeing and clinical impairment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the factor structure of a broad spectrum of eating attitudes and behaviors.
• To examine the associations between these eating behaviors and wellbeing outcomes.
• To explore the relationship between eating behaviors and clinical impairment.

Main Methods:

• Two independent samples of women (n1=400, n2=423) completed surveys assessing intuitive eating, mindful eating, disinhibited eating, dietary restraint, restriction, and orthorexia.
• Exploratory factor analysis (Sample 1) and confirmatory factor analysis (Sample 2) were used to determine the factor structure.

Main Results:

• A five-factor structure emerged, comprising one adaptive factor (Body-Centric Eating) and three maladaptive factors (Dietary Restraint, Disinhibited Eating, Severe Restriction).
• A fifth factor, Mechanical Eating, characterized by routine-based eating, was also identified.
• The study identified distinct clusters of adaptive and maladaptive eating behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Empirically identifying how adaptive and maladaptive eating behaviors cluster provides insight into their complex interplay.
• Adaptive eating strategies may play a role in mitigating maladaptive eating patterns and enhancing overall wellbeing.
• This research offers a framework for understanding diverse eating behaviors and their impact on mental health.