THE EFFECT OF EMOTIONAL EATING ON THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVEL

AND BODY MASS INDEX OF COLLEGE-AGED STUDENTS

Running Head: Effect of food intake behavior on physical activity and BMI in college students.

Author:
Ilyn Mendoza

School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University

San Diego, CA 92182

ABSTRACT
Objective: Eating habits and physical activity level play a crucial role in combating obesity and
numerous lifestyle-related diseases. This role is especially critical for college students, where
their life-changing transition into adulthood and increased autonomy may affect eating habits and
physical activity in a negative manner. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship
between emotional eating, physical activity status and BMI in college-aged students.

Methods: Ninety-seven college students were given three questionnaires assessing eating
behaviors, lifestyle behaviors, and frequent dietary behaviors. Factors including emotional
eating, physical activity frequency/intensity, and BMI were isolated for statistical analysis to
further determine possible relationships between the factors.

Results: Emotional eating habits were found to be within normal ranges for half of the
participants (50.6%). Additionally, BMI and physical activity frequency/intensity of the
participants all fell in normal ranges. (BMI: 2.217 0.563, physical activity frequency: 2.112
0.940, physical activity intensity: 2.244 0.733)

Conclusions: A statistically significant relationship (p=0.049) between participants with a normal

BMI (18.5-24.9) and normal emotional eating habits (7.167 2.431) can support findings that
emotional eating and BMI could be linked to one another.

Key words: Emotional eating; physical activity; body mass index; college students

INTRODUCTION
The transition from high school to college is a significant period in ones lifetime. Such
change results in various opportunities for one to experience independence from childhood and a
step towards adulthood. However, an overabundance of freedom is capable of providing college
students with opportunities to practice unhealthy lifestyle behaviors such as physical inactivity
and poor dietary habits associated with the wide availability of fast food on campus and the
frequency of social drinking/eating [1]. According to Brown, both physical activity and healthy
eating is key in preventing obesity, a major issue the United States faces today. By modifying
physical activity and dietary behaviors the incidence of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes,
and liver disease can be diminished [2].
A review by Joseph et al. explores the neurocognitive relationship between physical
activity and eating habits. While it has been found that an increased level of physical activity is
related to a more healthful diet, physical inactivity is related to a diet low in nutrient dense foods
(fruits and vegetables) and negative lifestyle behaviors such as smoking [3]. Additional findings
show that physical inactivity is associated with weight gain, specifically during the first year
transitioning into college [1].
With the independence one experiences during their transition to college, additional
responsibilities may accompany it. Responsibilities such as the pressure to succeed in academics
and provide for oneself could be difficult to handle while trying to adjust to a changing lifestyle.
This could ultimately develop into various negative emotions and stress. Emotional eating is
described to be the inclination to overeat as a consequence of experiencing negative emotions
[4]. According to Tan and Chow (who studied the relationship between stress and emotional
eating), higher amounts of stress is linked to a greater food intake [5]. Additionally, a study done

by Poinhos et al. explores the relationship with eating behavior and body mass index (BMI) in
higher education students. In this study it is noted that that overeating can be the result of
emotional eating, which is associated with a higher BMI [4]. Similarly, a study that was done by
Greene et al. to determine specific health risks related to eating behavior and physical activity in
college students found that students at a higher risk for certain health problems scored higher on
emotional eating and had a higher BMI [6]. Though there are various studies that have aimed to
determine if certain lifestyle behaviors regarding eating and physical activity resonate within the
college-aged population, very little studies have determined significant and conclusive results
that suggest eating behaviors (specifically emotional eating), physical activity and BMI may all
have an effect on one another.
The purpose of this observational study is to evaluate the relationship between emotional
eating and physical activity among a college- aged population, as well as if any correspondence
with BMI was established within our findings. It is hypothesized that emotional eating will
correspond to a higher BMI, which will further associate with ones physical activity level in a
negative manner.

METHODS
Participants
Ninety-seven college-aged students were recruited to participate in the study. Participants
were chosen by Foods and Nutrition undergraduate students from San Diego State University
that were enrolled in Advanced Nutrition Lab. The age range of the recruited college students
was between ages 18 to 45. Regarding gender, 70% of the participants were female (n=68) while
30% of the participants were male (n=29). 73% of participants were at a normal BMI range at

18.5-24.9, while 20% were at an overweight BMI range at 25-29.9. 4% of the participant fell at
the underweight BMI range (<18.5) while 3% fell at the obese BMI range (>30). Ineligible
participants include non-college students and those younger than 18 and older than 45.

Procedure
The study involved the distribution of three different surveys: The Three-Factor Eating
Questionnaire, Healthy Behavior Lifestyle Questionnaire, and Medficts Dietary Assessment
Questionnaire. Surveys were distributed to willing participants (consisting of both classmates
and peers) on San Diego State Universitys campus. After completion, the surveys were
collected and brought back to the Advanced Nutrition Lab room (PSFA 416) where they were
put in a folder and stored prior to further statistical analysis.

Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (Revised 18-Item)

Participants were given the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (Revised 18-Item), a
shortened version of the 51-item validated food questionnaire. The TFEQ-R18 aims to identify
three common eating behaviors of an individual: Cognitive restraint, uncontrollable eating, and
emotional eating. Each question describes a scenario and the responses validating the accuracy of
the scenario are given with a corresponding number (Definitely true 4; mostly true 3, mostly
false 2, definitely false 1). After the completion of the survey, the corresponding numbers to
the emotional eating questions (questions 3, 6 and 10) were isolated from the other two eating
behaviors. The corresponding numbers were summed up with scores ranging from 3 to 12.

Healthy Behavior Lifestyle Questionnaire Physical Activity (questions 20 and 21)

The Healthy Behavior Lifestyle Questionnaire consists of questions regarding
demographics (age, weight, height, gender, ethnicity and class standing/major), dietary/physical
activity, and metabolism. Physical activity questions included how often, what level of intensity,
what type, and reasons for exercising, as well as the opinion on personal body image. After the
completion of the survey, the physical activity questions regarding exercising frequency and
intensity were isolated (questions 20 and 21). Corresponding numbers to possible answer choices
were given by chronological numbering starting from top to bottom, left to right: 0-2 times per
week 1, 3-4 times per week 2, 5 or more times per week 3. Light 1, Moderate 2, and
Vigorous 3 were also given as well.

Healthy Behavior Lifestyle Questionnaire Body Mass Index (questions 2-3)

The body mass index of an individual was calculated using the weight and height in the
demographics portion of the Healthy Behavior Lifestyle Questionnaire. The weight was
converted to kg and divided by the height in m2. The resulting BMI were categorized in four
categories: Underweight (BMI: <18.5) 1, normal (BMI: 18.5-24.9) 2, overweight (BMI: 2530) 3 and obese (BMI: >30) 4.

Statistical Analysis
After the compilation of the surveys, averages were compiled in a Microsoft Excel
worksheet. The specific data averages from the survey questions regarding emotional eating,

BMI and physical activity were added in SPSS (IBM, Armonk, New York) for further analysis.
A p-value of p<0.05 was used for determining statistical significance.

RESULTS
Figure 1 illustrates the frequency of emotional eating among the participants. In general,
obtaining an emotional eating score of 3 constitutes as being the lowest frequency (related to low
emotional eating scores) while obtaining an emotional eating score of 11 being the highest
frequency (related to high emotional eating scores). The majority of participants scored within
the middle frequencies. 18.8% had a score of 6, 16.5% had a score of 8 and 15.3% had a score of
7. The lower frequencies were the second most scored. 14.1% of participants had a score of 4,
12.9% had a score of 3 and 9.4% has a score of 5. Finally, the highest frequencies were the least
scored, with 7.1% of participants with a score of 9, 2.4% with a score of 10, and 1.2% with a
score of 11.

Figure 1. Emotional Eating Frequency

18

Number of Participants *

16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
3

(*

7
Frequency

10

11

n=85)

Table 1 shows the participants mean and standard deviation for BMI, physical activity
frequency, and physical activity intensity. In terms of BMI, a mean of 1 would indicate a BMI
<18.5 while a mean of 2 would indicate a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. A mean of 3 would imply
a BMI between 25-30 and a mean of 4 would show a BMI above 30. The mean for BMI was
recorded to be 2.217 0.563. In terms of physical activity frequency, a score of 1 would denote
0-2 times per week, 2 would signify 3-4 times per week, and 3 would mean that the participant
was physically active 5 or more times per week. For this study the mean was 2.112 0.940.
Similarly, 1, 2, or 3 would denote the mean for physical activity intensity, starting with light,
moderate and vigorous. It was found that the participants in the study had a mean physical
activity intensity level of 2.244 0.733.

Table 1. Means and standard deviations regarding BMI, physical activity frequency, and
physical activity intensity.
Mean Standard Deviation
Body Mass Index (BMI) 1

2.217 0.563

P1: Physical Activity Frequency 2

2.112 0.940

P2: Physical Activity Intensity 2

2.244 0.733

1:

n=97, 2: n=98

Table 2 shows the means, standard deviations, and significance levels regarding
emotional eating frequencies and BMI. For participants with a BMI of less than 18.5, their mean
emotional eating score was 6.000 1.000 with a significance level of 0.570. Participants with a
BMI of 18.5-24.9 had a mean emotional eating score of 6.016 2.125 and a significance level of
0.426. A mean emotional eating score of 7.167 2.431 with a significance level of 0.049 was
given to participants with a BMI of 25-29.9. Because the significance level was less than 0.05,
the findings between emotional eating score and a BMI of 25-29.9 is considered significant (P=
0.05). Finally, participants with a BMI of greater than 30 had a mean emotional eating score of
5.000 1.732 with a significance level of 0.110.

Table 2. Means, standard deviations, and significance levels relating to the relationship between
emotional eating score and BMI.
Mean Standard Deviation

Significance Level

BMI <18.5

6.000 1.000

0.570

BMI 18.5-24.9

6.016 2.125

0.426

BMI 25-30

7.167 2.431

0.049 *

BMI >30

5.000 1.732

0.110

p < 0.05

DISCUSSION
This studys aim was to discover if any associations with emotional eating, BMI and
physical activity level were present in the college population. From the data analyzed in Figure
1, it was determined that half of the participants in the study scored within the middle
frequencies of emotional eating (50.6%). Because the participants emotional eating score was
localized in the middle of the frequency, no conclusions about whether these participants exhibit
low or high emotional eating tendencies can be determined. In the data from Table 1, the mean
BMI of the participants in the study was found to be 2.217 0.563, meaning most participants
BMI fell between the normal ranges. Additionally, the mean physical activity frequency and
intensity (2.112 0.940 and 2.244 0.733, respectively), which means that most participants
exercised at a moderate level of intensity 3-4 times a week.
Though there was no significant data from Figure 1 and Table 1 that could support
findings that higher emotional eating tendencies leads to higher BMI states in college students
[7], the results can still relate to previous findings the in the sense that emotional eating and BMI

could be correlated. In Table 2, the data provides a significant relationship between participants
at a normal BMI of 18.5-24.9 and a mean emotional eating score of 7.167 2.431 (p=0.049).
This can help further support the idea that if higher emotional eating tendencies may been linked
to higher BMI states, then normalized emotional eating tendencies may be linked to a normal
BMI.
There were some sources of error that may have skewed the results of the study. Though
this specific study did not look at gender as a key factor, the large amount of females versus
males (n=68 and n=29, respectively) may have skewed the results due to the fact that men and
women experience stress differently and as a result, may have different eating behaviors related
to emotional eating [7]. Additionally, less people participated in the TFEQ than the HBLQ (n=85
versus n=97), which may have led to an inaccurate result in terms of emotional eating.
Despite the sources of error, by adjusting the participant number and male to female ratio
as equal, while possibly adding more factors to look at such as gender or major (such as nutrition
students versus non-nutrition students), this study could be successfully replicated in the future.
With more studies done on the lifestyle habits of college students and how it can be related to
dietary habits, more information could be obtained to ultimately benefit the health status of the
United States as a whole.

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