The Effects of Life Stress and Weight on Mood and Eating

AppetitePublished 1 June 1981

Joyce Slochower, Sharon P. Kaplan, Lisa M. Mann

DOI10.1016/s0195-6663(81)80005-0

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Citations92

SJR quartileQ1

SJR score1.18

SNIP1.32

TL;DR

The results indicated, as predicted, that obese students ate significantly more during than after their exams, and correlations showed that overweight students' eating was positively related to their anxiety level and negativelyrelated to their sense of control over feelings.

Abstract

The effects of life stress on mood and eating in obese and normal weight individuals were assessed in a repeated measures design. Obese and non-obese female college students' eating and mood were measured (1) during final examinations and (2) three weeks after exams. The results indicated, as predicted, that obese students ate significantly more during than after their exams. Further, correlations showed that overweight students' eating was positively related to their anxiety level and negatively related to their sense of control over feelings. In addition, after final exams, obese students' eating was correlated with affects related to low self-esteem. Normal weight students' eating contrasted markedly with that of the obese: normal weight students' eating did not vary as a function of life stress, although a negative correlation between self reported anxiety and eating was found during the exam period. The importance of emotional states in the overeating pattern is discussed.

Keywords

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