Eating behavior and body composition in Chilean young adults

Background: Notable weight gain is observed during young adulthood, compared to other adult age groups, yet the relation between eating behavior and body composition at this stage remains poorly understood.

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the association between eating behavior scores (cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating), and body composition in a sample of Chilean young adults.

Methods: Logistic and linear regression models assessed the independent associations between cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating, derived from the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18, and body mass index (BMI), percent body fat by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and central obesity, accounting for demographic covariates, stratified by sex, in a sample of 555 participants of the Santiago Longitudinal Study (mean age 22.6 years [SD 0.4]).

Results: Cognitive restraint was positively associated with obesity, defined by BMI, % body fat, and central obesity. Emotional eating was related to obesity, defined by % body fat and central obesity in men and women and to obesity, defined by BMI, in women. Cognitive restraint was related to BMI in men and % body fat in women. Uncontrolled eating was not associated with adiposity in men or women.

Conclusions: In Chilean young adults, cognitive restraint and emotional eating scores were associated with higher BMI, elevated percent body fat, and greater central obesity.