Food craving frequency mediates the relationship between emotional eating and excess weight gain in pregnancy

Blau et al. (2018) state that cravings and negative affect (feelings of emotional distress) may trigger overconsumption in pregnant women. There is also evidence that obesity can negatively affect pregnancies, delivery of the baby, and may even cause adverse effects after childbirth. This study explored the role of food craving frequency as a mediator in the relationship between emotional eating and excess gestational weight gain. One hundred and thirteen pregnant women completed the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (to measure their eating styles) and the Food Craving Inventory (showing cravings for “high fat foods,” “fast food fats,” “carbohydrates/starches,” and “sweets”). It was found that the frequency of “high fat foods” cravings fully mediates the relationship between emotional eating and excess weight gain during pregnancy. Further research is recommended to find out whether there are affective states in which food cravings are particularly triggered, thus putting pregnant women at more risk of excess weight gain.
[NPID: cravings, emotional eating, gestational weight gain, pregnancy]

Year: 2018

Reference: Blau, L. E., Orloff, N. C., Flammer, A., Slatch, C., & Hormes, J. M. (2018). Food craving frequency mediates the relationship between emotional eating and excess weight gain in pregnancy. Eating behaviors, 31, 120–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2018.09.004