The Mediating Effect of Eating Behaviors on Interoception, Self-Regulation and Weight Status Among College Students

Background/Objectives: Obesity among college students has been consistently high in the recent decades. Regulatory processes such as interoception and self-regulation have been studied to identify specific health behaviors that lead to weight gain. Reduced interoception and self-regulation may lead to increased body mass index (BMI), however, various eating styles may indirectly affect this relationship. It is proposed that poor interoception and self-regulation can increase the incidence of maladaptive eating styles, such as emotional or external eating, which may indirectly contribute to weight gain. Conversely, eating styles like cognitive restraint and intuitive eating may indicate an opposing indirect effect, exhibiting eating behaviors likely to maintain optimal weight status. To date, it is unknown which eating styles mediate the relationship between interoception and self-regulation on BMI. Additionally, study variables were examined throughout time to identify any potential influences throughout a typical semester. Methods: There were 104 female participants who completed the study measures. Participants were primarily identified as Hispanic (75.1%), mean age = 23.39 (SD = 6.312), and mean BMI = 25.45 (SD = 5.48) at baseline. Preliminary statistics and longitudinal mediation analyses were conducted to examine the relationships among eating styles, interoception, self-regulation, and BMI. Results: Intuitive eating was the only eating style that was found to be a significant mediator among both interoception and self-regulation, and BMI. It is theorized that these regulation skills occur more commonly among college females who intuitively eat, thus accurately explaining the associations with BMI. Conclusions: The study has provided foundational evidence on the indirect effect of eating behaviors on one's relationship with interoception and self-regulation on BMI and can be useful in future interventions regarding college students and their associated risk for obesity.