Eating behaviors assessed by the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire and mental health in adults: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION: Since its development by Stunkard & Messik in 1985, the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire has been used to study eating behaviors, producing scientific evidence on their association with body weight regulation, eating disorders, and mental health. The present systematic review aimed to provide a narrative synthesis of the literature regarding the relationship between cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, emotional eating, and mental health in adults. METHODS: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, five databases were searched for articles published until March 18, 2023. Eligible research investigated eating behaviors, measured by revised versions of Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, and mental health, measured by psychometric instruments. RESULTS: A narrative synthesis of 40 cross-sectional articles suggested that anxiety, stress, food cravings, food addiction, and body dissatisfaction are highly associated with uncontrolled and emotional eating. Depression, negative affect, emotion dysregulation, and emotion avoidance were more frequently associated with emotional eating. Mindful and intuitive eating was negatively associated with uncontrolled and, especially, emotional eating. Cognitive restraint was inversely associated with depression but positively associated with disordered eating attitudes and body dissatisfaction. CONCLUSION: This review supports the importance of emotion regulation skills in interventions for maladaptive eating behaviors.