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Associations of eating identities with self-reported dietary behaviors and body mass index
Investigating the origins of healthy dietary habits requires a nuanced understanding that extends beyond mere beliefs and self-efficacy. In this study, we applied the validated “Eating Identity Type Inventory” to categorize participants into identity types: healthy eaters, meat eaters, emotional eaters, and picky eaters. The research aimed to uncover correlations between these identities and various socio-demographic characteristics, including race and ethnicity, and to examine their associations with dietary beliefs, self-efficacy, self-reported behaviors, and Body Mass Index (BMI).
A total of 340 adults from Los Angeles County participated in an online survey, providing valuable insights into their eating identities and dietary practices. Using Pearson correlations, we found that stronger identification as a healthy eater was positively associated with being non-Hispanic White or non-Hispanic mixed race, being older, and having a college degree. Conversely, identifying more as a meat eater was linked to being non-Hispanic Black, younger, and male, with statistical significance at α = 0.05.
In addition, healthy eaters demonstrated improved dietary beliefs and self-efficacy, while those identifying as emotional eaters exhibited lower self-efficacy (α = 0.05). Linear regressions further indicated that greater identification as a healthy eater was associated with healthier dietary behaviors and lower BMI. In contrast, those identifying as meat eaters or emotional eaters reported less healthy dietary practices and higher BMI, irrespective of their socio-demographic backgrounds, beliefs, and self-efficacy metrics (α = 0.05).
These findings underscore the crucial role that eating identities play in shaping dietary behaviors and health outcomes, offering essential insights for future dietary intervention strategies. [NPID: Self-efficacy, meat eater, eating identity, BMI, dietary behaviors]
Year: 2026
