Dispositional optimism is associated with weight status, eating behavior, and eating disorders in a general population‐based study

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess whether optimism is associated with body mass index (BMI), eating behavior and eating disorders (EDs) in a population-based study. Method: In 2016, a total of 32,805 participants aged ≥18 years from the NutriNet-Santé cohort completed the Life Orientation Test-Revised, assessing dispositional optimism. Height and weight were self-reported. Eating behavior was assessed with the revised 21-item Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. Risk of EDs was evaluated with the Sick-Control-One-Fat-Food Questionnaire. Linear and Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between optimism, BMI categories, eating behavior and ED risk, controlling for sociodemographic, lifestyle and depressive symptom characteristics. Results: Our sample was composed of 73.5% women, and the mean age was 55.39 ± 13.70 years. More optimistic participants were less likely to be underweight (OR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.75, 0.89), or obese, particularly class III obese (BMI ≥40 kg/m 2) (OR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.84) compared with less optimistic individuals. Optimism was negatively associated with cognitive restraint (β = −.07; 95%CI: −0.08; −0.06), emotional eating (β = −.17; 95% CI: −0.19, −0.16) and uncontrolled eating (β = −.10; 95% CI: −0.11, −0.09). In addition, more optimistic participants had a lower risk of EDs (OR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.64). Discussion: Our findings showed that optimism was associated with weight status, eating behavior and risk of EDs in both women and men. The causal structure of the underlying observed association remains unclear and should be further investigated.

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Exploring the association between early adaptive schemas and self‐reported eating disorder symptomatology

“…That is, less worrying and perceived lack of vulnerability (i.e., Optimism) were associated with worse eating disorder psychopathology, which is not supported by previous research. For example, a recent study found that optimistic individuals reported lower levels of cognitive restraint and emotional eating and had a lower risk of developing an eating disorder (Robert et al, 2020 ). Additionally, Foye and colleagues reported that individuals with higher levels of optimism were less likely to endorse disordered eating attitudes (Foye et al, 2019 ).…”