Systematic review links psycho-emotional and environmental factors to eating behaviors in adults with overweight or obesity

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Frontiers in Medicine Published May 6, 2026 Medically reviewed May 6, 2026 Study authors: Yan He, Yanjie Liu, Wanya Pan, Wenhao Tian, Yuan Zhao, Yunyu Guo, Xiuqin Feng DOI ↗ By Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

Key Takeaway

Consider holistic approaches involving emotion regulation and stress management for weight management in adults with overweight or obesity.

This systematic review examines factors associated with eating behaviors in a population of 7,614 young and middle-aged adults with overweight and obesity. The study setting was not reported. The analysis focuses on how specific variables influence dietary patterns rather than testing a specific pharmacological intervention or comparator. The authors synthesize findings across three primary outcome categories to understand the complexity of eating behaviors in this demographic.

The first category involves psycho-emotional factors, where negative affective states, impulsivity, and emotion regulation deficits are identified as significant associations. The second category addresses socio-environmental stressors, specifically highlighting occupational environments and interpersonal dynamics as influential elements. The third category covers maladaptive behavioral patterns, which include rapid eating rates and irregular meal timing. These associations suggest that eating behaviors often serve as compensatory mechanisms for emotional and environmental strain rather than solely reflecting nutritional choices.

The authors note that the study setting was not reported and that adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, and tolerability were not reported. No specific effect sizes, absolute numbers, p-values, or confidence intervals were provided for the identified associations. The review acknowledges that eating behaviors in this population often serve as compensatory mechanisms for emotional and environmental strain rather than solely reflecting nutritional choices. Consequently, effective weight management strategies must extend beyond traditional dietary education to incorporate holistic approaches involving emotion regulation, stress management, and behavioral modification.

Study Details

Study typeMeta analysis

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedMay 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

The escalating prevalence of overweight and obesity among young and middle-aged adults constitutes a significant public health challenge. While modifying dietary behavior is accepted as a critical component of weight management, existing reports regarding the specific drivers of these behaviors remain scattered and lack systematic integration. To address this knowledge gap, this review systematically synthesized the factors associated with eating behaviors within this demographic. Adhering strictly to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol, a comprehensive search across seven electronic databases was conducted, identifying nine eligible cross-sectional studies comprising 7,614 participants. Narrative synthesis categorized the identified associated factors into three overarching themes: psycho-emotional factors, encompassing negative affective states, impulsivity, and emotion regulation deficits; socio-environmental stressors defined by occupational environments and interpersonal dynamics; and maladaptive behavioral patterns such as rapid eating rates and irregular meal timing. These findings critically indicate that eating behaviors in this population often serve as compensatory mechanisms for emotional and environmental strain rather than solely reflecting nutritional choices. Consequently, effective weight management strategies must extend beyond traditional dietary education to incorporate holistic approaches involving emotion regulation, stress management, and behavioral modification. By addressing these upstream non-nutritional determinants and psychological distress, healthcare providers can develop more comprehensive, targeted, and successful interventions to support weight management efforts in young and middle-aged adults.