Trait anxiety, but not trait anger, predisposes obese individuals to emotional eating

Abstract

The present study examined whether trait anxiety and trait anger are associated with vulnerability to emotional eating, particularly among obese individuals. Lean (n=37) and obese (n=24) participants engaged in a laboratory study where they completed measures of trait anxiety and trait anger at screening and then completed 3 counterbalanced experimental sessions involving different mood inductions (neutral, anxiety, anger). Following each mood induction, participants were provided with snack foods in a sham taste test. Models predicting snack intake revealed a significant trait anxiety × body mass index group interaction, such that high trait anxiety was positively associated with food intake for obese individuals, but not their lean counterparts. Contrary to the hypothesis, trait anger was not associated with food intake for obese or lean participants. Results suggest that trait anxiety may be a risk factor for emotional eating among obese individuals.

Perceived and actual obesity in childhood and adolescence and risk of adult depression

“…For example, anxiety has been postulated as an important vulnerability factor in emotional eating among obese children 51. Thus, vulnerability to emotional eating within obese children could explain, at least in part, the association between childhood obesity and depression found in the present study 53…”

“…Finally, it is important to mention the role of emotional factors in overeating and food addiction particularly among obese children 51 52. For example, anxiety has been postulated as an important vulnerability factor in emotional eating among obese children 51.…”

Effects of Anxiety on Caloric Intake and Satiety-Related Brain Activation in Women and Men

“…However, another line of research suggests that anxiety itself could promote excess food intake. For example, participants with high trait anxiety increase energy intake when exposed to experimental situations that induce stress and anxiety (7, 8). Such findings raise the question of whether anxiety could predispose individuals to weight gain, perhaps via alterations in eating behaviors and/or neural mechanisms.…”

“…Using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), we determined state (current anxiety induced by a situation) and trait (global and enduring) anxiety scores of all participants. Trait anxiety has been shown to affect eating behavior in both lean and obese subjects as well as influence ratings of sweet and bitter flavors, but other studies indicate that state anxiety predicts increased food intake (7, 8, 20, 21). We therefore studied each component of anxiety separately, stratifying our analyses by sex.…”

The Effect of Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy on Anger and General Health of Female Students in Iran: A Pilot Study

“…Trait anger refers to an individual's overall propensity to become aroused to anger as a stable aspect of the personality over a long term (14). Spielberger (1983) hypothesized that persons scoring high on trait anger tend to perceive a wide range of situations as anger-provoking (e.g.…”