Intuitive Eating, Diet Composition, and The Meaning of Food in Healthy Weight Promotion

TeriSue Smith · Steven R. Hawks

132 citations0/0 files storedAmerican Journal of Health Education

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Eating Disorders and Behaviors Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior Health and Lifestyle Studies

Abstract

Intuitive eating (an anti-dieting, hunger-based approach to eating) has been popularized as a viable approach to healthy weight management. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between intuitive eating, diet composition, and the meaning of food. The convenience sample included 343 students enrolled in a general education course at a Western university. Participants were given paper-and-pencil surveys containing the Intuitive Eating Scale and a variety of diet-related scales adapted from other studies. Each scale/subscale was evaluated for internal consistency and deemed acceptable. Those scoring high in intuitive eating had lower BMI scores (r=-.327, p<.001), less health-consciousness in relation to food (r=-.209, p<.001), and higher levels of pleasure associated with food and eating (r=.484, p<.001). No negative aspect of diet composition was correlated with intuitive eating or any of its sub-scales. Mean comparisons showed a significant difference between males and females in intuitive eating, dieting, health consciousness, and eating for pleasure (p<.001). In general, high intuitive eating scores were associated with an increase in the enjoyment and pleasure of food, lower BMI scores, and fewer dieting behaviors and food anxieties. The promotion of intuitive eating as one approach to healthy weight management should continue to be explored.

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References

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2015Contributions of mindful eating, intuitive eating, and restraint to BMI, disordered eating, and meal consumption in college students 2014Cross-cultural validity of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2. Psychometric evaluation in a sample of the general French population 2013Eat for Life: A Work Site Feasibility Study of a Novel Mindfulness-Based Intuitive Eating Intervention 2016A Health at Every Size intervention improves intuitive eating and diet quality in Canadian women 2017Turkish version of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2: Validity and reliability among university students 2015

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