Embodiment and mindful eating behavior in the context of ethnicity, race, and gender

The Developmental Theory of Embodiment describes a framework to understand eating and body image concerns as resulting from constrictive and gendered social discourses. Embodiment is posited to be associated with eating patterns that are attuned to and in a comfortable relationship with the body. One such pattern is mindful eating, a behavior that involves attunement to the sensory aspects of eating. The aims of the present study were to examine: 1) the prevalence of both embodiment and mindful eating across gender, ethnicity, and race; and 2) associations between embodiment and mindful eating. EAT 2023 (Eating and Activity over Time) is the third wave of a population-based study of dietary intake, physical activity, weight control behaviors, and factors associated with these outcomes in young people. Both embodiment and mindful eating were measured in over 900 young adults to examine the relationships across gender and ethnic and racial identities. Cisgender women and gender minorities reported lower levels of positive embodiment as compared with cisgender men, after adjusting for age, education, ethnicity, race, and body mass index. Ethnic and racial differences were found on the measures of positive embodiment and mindful eating. Embodiment was positively and significantly associated with mindful eating in all groups. Correlations in ethnic/racial groups ranged from r = 0.27 for Asian participants to r = 0.44 for Native participants. These results highlight the usefulness of identifying factors that contribute to positive embodiment and mindful eating and suggest that both constructs may be advantageous to explore in prevention and intervention efforts.