Exploring Emotional, Restrained, and External Eating Behaviors: Impacts on Energy and Nutrient Intakes Among Korean Adults.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the levels of emotional, restrained, and external eating behaviors (EBs) among adults, categorize them, and analyze their energy and nutrient intake.

METHODS

A self-reported survey was administered to 522 Korean adults aged 19-64 years to evaluate their emotional, restrained, and external EBs. They were categorized into five types: Non-specific (NS), Emotional (Emo), Restrained (Res), External (Ext), and Combined (Com) EB types. Subsequently, energy intake, intake ratios and levels, and vitamin and mineral intakes were compared after adjusting for sex and age.

RESULTS

The Ext type participants consumed energy and an average of 3003.01 kcal per day, while those with Res type consumed 2415.77 kcal. Notably, both the Ext and Com types had higher proportions of excessive energy intake, while the NS and Res types displayed higher proportions of insufficient energy intake. The Emo type yielded a high ratio of lipid intake, while the Com type exhibited high ratios of both lipid and protein intakes. Furthermore, the Res type demonstrated lower vitamin E, niacin, and potassium intakes than the other types.

CONCLUSIONS

Since the Ext type suggests excessive energy intake, and the Res type suggest intake of vitamin E, niacin, and potassium, identifying EB types provides a novel perspective for nutritional improvement strategies.