Wang H, He X, Tang Y, Tang J, Yang J. Unveiling the links between physical activity, self-identity, social anxiety, and emotional eating among
overweight and obese young adults.
Front Psychol 2024;
14:1255548. [PMID:
38259565 PMCID:
PMC10800689 DOI:
10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1255548]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction
Emotional eating not only contributes to physical obesity but also leads to the experience of guilt and shame, exacerbating emotional problems. Increasing physical activity, adopting a balanced diet, and seeking psychological support help improve emotional eating issues in overweight or obese young adults, enhancing overall mental and physical well-being.
Methods
This study investigates the correlation between physical activity, self-identity, social anxiety, and emotional eating among 373 overweight and obese college students aged 18-26 in central China. By utilizing AMOS v.26, a structural equation model was constructed to examine the hypotheses.
Results
The findings reveal that physical activity significantly influences self-identity and social anxiety, which, in turn, significantly impact emotional eating. Moreover, self-identity and social anxiety serve as mediators in the relationship between physical activity and emotional eating. These results emphasize the role of physical activity in mitigating emotional eating among young individuals struggling with overweight and obesity.
Discussion
Consequently, the government and relevant agencies are urged to address the issue of obesity among young adults and provide support for their engagement in physical activity.
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