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Associations between intuitive eating and health behaviors and physical health in U.S. adults
Intuitive eating, which focuses on responding to internal hunger and fullness signals rather than adhering to restrictive diets, may serve as a valuable health promotion strategy. While existing literature has confirmed a strong link between intuitive eating and mental well-being, its relationship with health behaviors and physical health remains less explored. In this study, we examined the associations between intuitive eating and lifestyle choices, as well as the prevalence of chronic diseases, among a substantial and diverse adult population in the United States.
We recruited 1,057 adults aged 18 and older from the CloudResearch Connect platform to participate in an online survey assessing their stress levels, health behaviors, and chronic health conditions. Our sample, with an average age of 36 years (±11 years), was comprised of 52% females and included diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds: 13% Asian/Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 21% Black, 18% Latine, and 58% White, with 30% of participants experiencing food insecurity.
Our analysis, which adjusted for age, sex, and race/ethnicity, revealed significant correlations between higher intuitive eating scores and improved lifestyle behaviors. Specifically, participants with elevated intuitive eating scores engaged in more physical activity (p = .01), slept more (p < .001), reported better overall health (p < .001), and experienced lower stress (p < .001).
Notably, intuitive eating did not exhibit a significant relationship with fruit and vegetable consumption or substance use. However, it was linked to a decreased likelihood of hypertension (p < .001), hyperlipidemia (p < .001), and type 2 diabetes (p = .01), indicating a small to moderate effect size.
These findings indicate that intuitive eating not only enhances psychological health but also promotes beneficial health behaviors and correlates with a reduced risk of cardiometabolic diseases. While further research through longitudinal and intervention studies is warranted, the results underscore the potential of intuitive eating as an effective approach to preventing chronic diseases and promoting overall health. [NPID: Intuitive eating, lifestyle, interoception, signals]
Year: 2026
