The associations of mindful and intuitive eating with BMI, depression, anxiety and stress across generations: a cross-sectional study

The study aimed to evaluate the differences between generations and relationship between mindful and intuitive eating with body mass index (BMI), depression, stress, and anxiety. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 547 adults. Online questionnaire including Intuitive Eating Scale-2nd edition (IES-2), Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ), and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale was performed. Gen Z scored highest for "unconditional permission to eat", and lowest for "interference" (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Baby Boomers demonstrated the lowest "conscious nutrition" scores compared to others (<i>p</i>: 0.002). Weak negative correlations were observed between IES-2 scores and BMI (<i>r</i>: -0.165, <i>p</i> < 0.001), depression (<i>r</i>: -0.194, <i>p</i> < 0.001), anxiety (<i>r</i>: -0.191, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and stress (<i>r</i>: -0.100, <i>p</i>: 0.020). MEQ scores were negatively correlated with BMI, depression, anxiety, and stress (<i>r</i>: -0.159, <i>r</i>: -0.364, <i>r</i>: -0.372, <i>r</i>: -0.360, <i>p</i> < 0.001). "Eating for physical rather than emotional reasons" showed negative correlation with depression, anxiety, and stress scores (<i>r</i>: -0.259, <i>r</i>: -0.249, <i>r</i>: -0.168, <i>p</i> < 0.001).