The effect of perceived control over eating on the life satisfaction of women and men: results from a community sample.
OBJECTIVE
To test whether overweight, or perception of lack of control over eating, or both, contributed to the level of life satisfaction for women and men in a random sample of community-dwelling adults.


METHODS
This study examined the effects of body mass index (BMI) and perceived control over eating on life satisfaction for women and men in a community-based sample of 1,069 women and 963 men.


RESULTS
For women, both lack of perceived eating control and higher BMI were associated with less life satisfaction, and lack of control over eating was the more important predictor. For men, only lack of perceived eating control was associated with less life satisfaction. Furthermore, for both women and men, the contribution of eating control to life satisfaction was unaffected by BMI, that is, the life satisfaction of heavier people was not more affected by perceived control over eating than was the life satisfaction of lighter people.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that psychological issues related to eating and weight can affect global aspects of well-being.
Greeno
C G
CG
Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention, Stanford Medical School, California, USA.
Jackson
C
C
Williams
E L
EL
Fortmann
S P
SP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors