Healthcare, Vol. 13, Pages 2186: Emotional Eating Patterns, Nutritional Status, and the Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes Among University Students: A Preliminary Assessment
Healthcare doi: 10.3390/healthcare13172186
Authors:
Víctor Manuel Jiménez-Cano
Adela Gómez-Luque
Vicente Robles-Alonso
María Valle Ramírez-Durán
Belinda Basilio-Fernández
Pilar Alfageme-García
Sonia Hidalgo-Ruiz
Juan Fabregat-Fernández
Alba Torres-Pérez
Background/Objectives: Emotional eating has been linked to neurobiological mechanisms similar to those observed in addictive behaviors, and this occurrence appears not fully understood, even in academic communities/environments. To supplement existing information, a preliminary assessment of university students' emotional eating patterns, nutritional status, and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes has been performed in this current work. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 129 students from the University of Extremadura, Spain. Emotional eating was assessed using the Emotional Eating Questionnaire (EEQ) and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire—Spanish version (TFEQ-R18(SP)) questionnaires, while type 2 diabetes risk was evaluated through the Finnish Diabetes Risk (FINDRISC) score test. Anthropometric data, including height, weight, BMI, and body composition, were collected using standardized measurement protocols. Statistical analyses included ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Results: Significant differences were observed in BMI (mean ± SD: 23.93 ± 5.36 kg/m²) and total EEQ score (mean ± SD: 9.82 ± 5.82) across FINDRISC risk categories (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). The Very Emotional Eaters group presented higher BMIs and FINDRISC scores, along with greater score dispersion. No significant differences were identified in EEQ subscales. Conclusions: Emotional eating behaviors may serve as indirect indicators of metabolic vulnerability, particularly when combined with excess body weight. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating emotional regulation and mindful eating strategies into health promotion programs for young adults.
Source link
Víctor Manuel Jiménez-Cano www.mdpi.com
