The associations between emotional eating and consumption of energy-dense snack foods are modified by sex and depressive symptomatology.
In recent years, emotional eating (EmE) has incited substantial research interest as an important psychologic determinant of food intake and overweight. However, little is known about factors that might modulate its relations with dietary habits. The objective of this study was to examine the association between EmE and consumption of energy-dense snack food and assess the 2-way interaction of EmE with sex and depressive symptoms. A total of 7378 men and 22,862 women from the NutriNet-Santé cohort (France, 2009-2013) who completed ≥6 self-reported 24-h food records were included in this cross-sectional analysis. EmE was evaluated via the revised 21-item Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. The associations between EmE and energy-dense food consumption were assessed by multivariable logistic and linear regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Higher EmE was associated with higher consumption of energy-dense snacks and, in particular, with consumption of sweet-and-fatty foods across most categories studied. However, these associations were stronger in women with depressive symptoms (e.g., high consumption of chocolate, OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.43, 2.20; cakes/biscuits/pastries, OR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.45, 2.26) compared with those without depressive symptoms (e.g., high consumption of chocolate, OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.36, 1.69; cakes/biscuits/pastries, OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.29, 1.61). In contrast, the significant positive associations observed in men without depressive symptoms (e.g., high consumption of chocolate, OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.52; cakes/biscuits/pastries, OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.48) were not found in men with depressive symptoms. In conclusion, in women, EmE was positively associated with consumption of energy-dense snack food, particularly in those with depressive symptoms. For men, the relation between EmE and energy-dense snack foods was found only in those without depressive symptoms. These findings call for consideration of the psychologic state when targeting unhealthy dietary habits, especially in women. This trial was registered at eudract.ema.europa.eu as 2013-000929-31.
Paris 13 University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Research Center, Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), U1153 National Institute of Health and Medical Research, U1125 National Institute for Agricultural Research, National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts, Paris 7 and 5 Universities, Bobigny, France g.camilleri@uren.smbh.univ-paris13.fr.
Géraldine M
GM
Camilleri
Paris 13 University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Research Center, Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), U1153 National Institute of Health and Medical Research, U1125 National Institute for Agricultural Research, National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts, Paris 7 and 5 Universities, Bobigny, France.
Caroline
C
Méjean
Paris 13 University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Research Center, Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), U1153 National Institute of Health and Medical Research, U1125 National Institute for Agricultural Research, National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts, Paris 7 and 5 Universities, Bobigny, France.
Emmanuelle
E
Kesse-Guyot
Paris 13 University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Research Center, Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), U1153 National Institute of Health and Medical Research, U1125 National Institute for Agricultural Research, National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts, Paris 7 and 5 Universities, Bobigny, France.
Valentina A
VA
Andreeva
Paris 13 University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Research Center, Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), U1153 National Institute of Health and Medical Research, U1125 National Institute for Agricultural Research, National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts, Paris 7 and 5 Universities, Bobigny, France.
France
F
Bellisle
Paris 13 University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Research Center, Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), U1153 National Institute of Health and Medical Research, U1125 National Institute for Agricultural Research, National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts, Paris 7 and 5 Universities, Bobigny, France Nutrition Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, French Institute for Health Surveillance, Paris 13 University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Bobigny, France; and Public Health Department, Avicenne Hospital, Bobigny, France.
Serge
S
Hercberg
Paris 13 University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Research Center, Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team (EREN), U1153 National Institute of Health and Medical Research, U1125 National Institute for Agricultural Research, National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts, Paris 7 and 5 Universities, Bobigny, France.
Sandrine
S
Péneau
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D062410:Snacks / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires