The Relationship Between Emotional Eating, Depression, and Body Mass Index

• Main Author: Kelly, Loran Elizabeth
• Other Authors: David Schlundt
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: VANDERBILT 2013
• Subjects: Psychology
• Online Access: http://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/available/etd-12022013-121153/

While it is commonly believed that there is a relationship between obesity and depression, the extant research has been inconclusive and inconsistent on this topic. Several studies have shown that obese individuals were at an elevated risk of depression (Hawkins & Stewart, 2012; Roberts, Deleger, Strawbridge, & Kaplan, 2003; Faith et al. 2011; Luppino, 2013). However, other research has indicated that overweight individuals were less depressed, while other research still has indicated that there was no association between obesity on the risk for depression (Hasler et al., 2004; John et al., 2005; Faith, Matz, & Jorge, 2002). It is possible, that the direction of the relationship between depression and obesity depends another variable or variables. This research focuses on measures of eating style such as emotional eating, overeating, and unplanned snacking. We will examine the hypothesis that the association between depression and obesity is moderated by these variables.