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The grit personality trait, eating behavior, and obesity among Japanese adults: a cross-sectional study
The grit personality trait, eating behavior, and obesity among Japanese adults
Obesity is a complex chronic disease influenced by various factors, including genetics, culture, environment, and psychosocial elements, complicating management efforts. This research examines the relationship between grit—a personality trait associated with self-control—and obesity, with a focus on how multidimensional eating behaviors mediate this connection. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,641 Japanese adults, where obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25.0 kg/m² or higher. Grit was assessed using the Short Grit Scale, while eating behaviors were measured using the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R21, which encompasses uncontrolled eating, emotional eating, and cognitive restraint. Findings revealed that 26.8% of participants were classified as obese. Higher levels of grit correlated with a reduced likelihood of obesity, as well as lower instances of uncontrolled and emotional eating, and greater cognitive restraint. Mediation analyses indicated that uncontrolled and emotional eating fully mediated the relationship between grit and obesity, while cognitive restraint provided a partial mediation effect. The implications of these findings suggest that healthcare providers and policymakers should focus on addressing eating behaviors rather than attributing obesity to individual willpower deficits, thereby potentially reducing stigma and enhancing obesity prevention efforts. [NPID: grit, self-control, obesity, personality, cognitive restraint, emotional eating, obesity]
Year: 2025
