Depression Affects Emotional Eating and Dietary Intake and Is Related to Food Insecurity in a Group of Multiethnic, Low-income Women

Abstract

Both depression and obesity are prevalent among low-income, food insecure women. Though a causal relationship between depression and obesity has been suggested, research has not extensively investigated dietary intake and eating behavior attributes in relation to depression in low-income women. This study examined symptoms of depression in a cross-sectional group of urban, low-income women (n = 330) and the relationship to food insecurity, dietary intake, weight status, and emotional eating. Results showed that depressed women were more food insecure, had higher caloric intake, and consumed more servings of discretionary foods, such as fat and sugar, which appeared to be partially mediated through the increased emotional eating among depressed participants and may contribute to increased weight overtime.

KEYWORDS:

• obesity–hunger paradox
• depression
• food insecurity
• food intake emotional eating

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded through USDA SNAP-ED Grant.