Trusting the Body's Wisdom: Intuitive Eating, Eating Behaviours, and Dietary Intake in Healthy Adult Women

Background and aim: Intuitive eating is associated with physical and psychological health, but evidence regarding specific dietary intake remains limited. This study investigates the relationships between intuitive eating dimensions, eating attitudes, and specific food group consumption in healthy adult women. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 196 healthy women (18-60 years). Data were collected using the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), and 3-day dietary records. Anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, waist, and hip circumferences) were taken, and data were evaluated using multivariate regression analyses. Results: Total IES-2 scores correlated negatively with body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and EAT-26 scores (P<0.001). In multivariate regressions, the body-food choice congruence (B-FCC) and eating for physical rather than emotional reasons (EPR) subscales were significant negative predictors of BMI and waist circumference. Regarding diet, the unconditional permission to eat (UPE) subscale was positively associated with bread and grains intake (β=0.202, P =0.044) and negatively with dairy. The reliance on hunger and satiety cues (RHSC) subscale correlated positively with oilseeds and legumes intake (P <0.05). Conclusions: Intuitive eating is inversely associated with disordered eating, body weight, and waist circumference. While alleviating cognitive dietary restraint, represented by UPE, relates to specific dietary shifts, the EPR and B-FCC dimensions strongly predict a healthier anthropometric profile. Promoting intuitive eating and trusting the body's wisdom can foster sustainable healthy eating habits.