ERIC Number: EJ792835
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 6
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1055-6699
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The Relationship between Intuitive Eating and Health Indicators among College Women
Hawks, Steven; Madanat, Hala; Hawks, Jaylyn; Harris, Ashley
American Journal of Health Education, v36 n6 p331-336 Nov-Dec 2005
Epidemic levels of obesity represent a growing public health problem associated with a variety of negative health outcomes. Population level interventions that aim to moderate obesigenic environments have been proposed but remain largely unimplemented. Standard individual level interventions that focus on dietary restraint have been ineffective and in some cases harmful. Intuitive eating, an anti-dieting strategy that relies on recognizing and responding to internal hunger and satiation cues, has been proposed as an alternative approach to healthy weight management at the individual level--but it remains largely untested. This study evaluated the relationship between intuitive eating and various health indicators among female college students. As measured by the Intuitive Eating Scale (IES), it was found that intuitive eating was significantly correlated with lower body mass index (r = -0.576), lower triglyceride levels (r = -0.408), higher levels of high density lipoproteins (0.437), and improved cardiovascular risk (r = 0.425). Findings provide tentative support for intuitive eating as a positive approach to healthy weight management at the individual level. Implications and future research needs are discussed. (Contains 3 tables.)
Descriptors: Research Needs, Cues, Obesity, Body Composition, Health Promotion, Public Health, Scientific Concepts, Eating Habits, Intuition, Females, College Students, Body Weight, Measures (Individuals), Correlation
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A