Associations of Eating Identities With Self-Reported Dietary Behaviors and Body Mass Index

Abstract

Objective:To inform dietary interventions, it is important to understand antecedents of recommended (henceforth: healthy) dietary behaviors, beyond dietary beliefs and self-efficacy. We used the validated “Eating Identity Type Inventory” to assess the extent to which participants identified as healthy eaters, meat eaters, emotional eaters or picky eaters. We examined correlations between participants' race/ethnicity and other socio-demographic characteristics and affinity with these eating identities, how affinity with these eating identities correlated with self-reports of dietary beliefs, self-efficacy, dietary behaviors and Body Mass Index (BMI), and how well affinity with these eating identities predicted self-reported dietary behaviors and BMI, as compared to self-reported dietary beliefs and self-efficacy.MethodsIn an online survey, a diverse sample of 340 Los Angeles County adults reported eating identities, dietary beliefs, and self-efficacy, dietary behaviors and BMI.ResultsPearson correlations revealed that identifying more as a healthy eater was positively associated with self-reports of being non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic mixed race, older, and college-educated, while identifying more as a meat eater was positively associated with self-reports of being non-Hispanic Black, younger, and male (α = 0.05). Pearson correlations also showed that healthy eaters had more accurate dietary beliefs and self-efficacy, and emotional eaters had lower self-efficacy (α = 0.05). In linear regressions, identifying more as a healthy eater was associated with self-reporting healthier dietary behaviors and lower BMI, and identifying more as a meat eater and emotional eater was associated with reporting less healthy dietary behaviors and higher BMI, even after accounting for correlations with socio-demographics, dietary beliefs, and self-efficacy (α = 0.05).ConclusionsOur findings highlight the importance of eating identities in understanding dietary behaviors and outcomes, with implications for dietary interventions.

Adherence to the Eatwell Guide and cardiometabolic, cognitive and neuroimaging parameters: an analysis from the PREVENT dementia study

“…There was a significant association between self-perception of a healthy diet and higher binary and graded EWG scores, with the association strongest in the high SES group as well as in those participants who were not in employment at the time of dietary data collection. This replicates previous research that has shown associations between self-perceived diet and more objective measures of dietary quality [ 39 , 40 ].…”

Adherence to the Eatwell Guide and cardiometabolic, cognitive and neuroimaging parameters: An analysis from the PREVENT Dementia study

“…There has also been an increased interest in recent years as to the impact and importance of whether individuals believe they eat a healthy diet. Individuals who believe they are healthier eaters have been shown to have healthier dietary behaviours (27), to eat more fruits and vegetables and to eat fewer discretionary foods (28). It is unclear whether those who feel they eat a healthier diet have a greater adherence to the EWG in the context of a UK and Irish population however, this knowledge could be valuable for helping to identify those who may benefit from dietary advice or intervention and warrants investigation.…”