Trait anxiety, but not trait anger, predisposes obese individuals to emotional eating.
The present study examined whether trait anxiety and trait anger are associated with vulnerability to emotional eating, particularly among obese individuals. Lean (n = 37) and obese (n = 24) participants engaged in a laboratory study where they completed measures of trait anxiety and trait anger at screening and then completed 3 counterbalanced experimental sessions involving different mood inductions (neutral, anxiety, anger). Following each mood induction, participants were provided with snack foods in a sham taste test. Models predicting snack intake revealed a significant trait anxiety×body mass index group interaction, such that high trait anxiety was positively associated with food intake for obese individuals, but not their lean counterparts. Contrary to the hypothesis, trait anger was not associated with food intake for obese or lean participants. Results suggest that trait anxiety may be a risk factor for emotional eating among obese individuals.
Schneider
Kristin L
KL
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Department of Medicine, Worcester, 01655, USA. kristin.schneider@umassmed.edu
Appelhans
Bradley M
BM
Whited
Matthew C
MC
Oleski
Jessica
J
Pagoto
Sherry L
SL
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000786:Anger; D001007:Anxiety; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult