Life history strategy and addiction-like eating: Implications for Body Mass Index

Addiction-like eating describes maladaptive eating behaviors characterized by heightened sensitivity to unhealthy foods and difficulty regulating food intake, which can increase the risk of overweight and obesity. This study examined psychological factors that may shape addiction-like eating and body weight through the lens of life history theory, which considers how individuals make choices based on environmental conditions and resource availability. Findings from self-report data suggest that individuals who follow a slower life history strategy—prioritizing quality, long-term goals, and resource investment over immediate gratification—tend to report lower levels of addiction-like eating and healthier body weight. They are also less inclined to hold beliefs that unhealthy behaviors can be offset by future “compensatory” actions or to experience feelings of unfair deprivation when comparing themselves to those in more advantaged social positions. Such compensatory beliefs and frustration may elevate the risk for addiction-like eating and overweight. The study highlights the role of reshaping psychological beliefs as a pathway to reducing maladaptive eating patterns and promoting healthier weight outcomes. [NPID: Addiction-like, eating behaviors, obesity, choices, prioritizing, goals, deprivation, beliefs]

Year: 2025

Reference: Ling, H., Chen, B. B., Zhang, H., Zhao, P., & Liu, Y. (2025). Associations of addiction-like eating with personal relative deprivation, compensatory health beliefs, and body mass index from the life history perspective. Journal of Eating Disorders, 13, 180. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-025-01356-1