Association between diet quality score, muscle strength, emotional eating and visceral fat in overweight young female students

Purpose This study aims to examine the independent associations between diet quality, emotional eating (EE), muscle strength (MS), and visceral fat among young female samples. Design/methodology/approach This cross-sectional study involved 57 overweight respondents aged 19–24 years. Diet quality score (DQS) was assessed using the Indonesian HEI-(Health Eating Index) questionnaire from 2x24 hour food recalls, EE was assessed by Eating Appraisal Due to Emotions and Stress questionnaire. Hand grip MS was measured by a grip strength dynamometer while visceral fat (VF) was measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. Correlations and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed. Findings The DQS (r = −0.30), MS (r = −0.39) and EE (r = 0.77) were significantly associated with VF. Only EE remains significantly and positively associated with VF in both main (Unstandardized ß = 0.39, 95% CI 0.25–0.53, p-value = 0.001) and adjusted models (Unstandardized ß = 0.16, 95% CI 0.08–0.24, p-value = 0.001). Originality/value Emotional eating is significantly associated with visceral fat in this young female samples, whereas diet quality and muscle strength were not significant after adjustment. These findings highlight the importance of addressing emotional eating behaviors as a potential strategy for reducing visceral adiposity in early adulthood.