ERIC Number: EJ795904
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 7
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1932-5037
EISSN: N/A
Intuitive Eating, Diet Composition, and the Meaning of Food in Healthy Weight Promotion
Smith, TeriSue; Hawks, Steven R.
American Journal of Health Education, v37 n3 p130-136 May-Jun 2006
Intuitive eating (an anti-dieting, hunger-based approach to eating) has been popularized as a viable approach to healthy weight management. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between intuitive eating, diet composition, and the meaning of food. The convenience sample included 343 students enrolled in a general education course at a Western university. Participants were given paper-and-pencil surveys containing the Intuitive Eating Scale and a variety of diet-related scales adapted from other studies. Each scale/subscale was evaluated for internal consistency and deemed acceptable. Those scoring high in intuitive eating had lower BMI scores (r = -0.327, p less than 0.001), less health-consciousness in relation to food (r = -0.209, p less than 0.001), and higher levels of pleasure associated with food and eating (r = 0.484, p less than 0.001). No negative aspect of diet composition was correlated with intuitive eating or any of its sub-scales. Mean comparisons showed a significant difference between males and females in intuitive eating, dieting, health consciousness, and eating for pleasure (p less than 0.001). In general, high intuitive eating scores were associated with an increase in the enjoyment and pleasure of food, lower BMI scores, and fewer dieting behaviors and food anxieties. The promotion of intuitive eating as one approach to healthy weight management should continue to be explored. (Contains 3 tables.)
Descriptors: Education Courses, Health Promotion, Dietetics, Measures (Individuals), Intuition, Food, Body Weight, College Students, Scores, Student Surveys, Body Composition
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A