The Effect of Physical Exercise on Emotional Eating Among College Students: A Chain Mediation Analysis of Dietary Behavior and Body Satisfaction

Objective: To investigate the relationship between physical exercise and emotional eating, as well as the chain mediating effects of dietary behavior and body satisfaction therein. Methods: A survey was conducted on 575 college students using the Physical Activity Level Scale, Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire, Body Self-State Scale, and Eating Behavior Scale. Results: (1) Physical exercise does not directly influence emotional eating. (2) Eating behavior mediated the relationship between physical exercise and emotional eating; body satisfaction did not mediate this relationship. (3) Both eating behavior and body satisfaction mediated the relationship between physical exercise and emotional eating. (4) Subgroup analysis revealed gender differences across all paths: mediating effects were significant among female participants but not among male participants. Conclusions: Findings reveal that physical exercise influences emotional eating through dietary behavior and the dietary behavior–body satisfaction pathway. This research provides insights for promoting college students’ physical and mental health and exploring the internal mechanisms of reducing emotional eating among this population.