The relationship between emotional eating, emotional regulation, and anxiety in bodybuilders

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between emotional eating, emotion regulation, and anxiety levels in weightlifters in the Vale do Rio dos Sinos region, Rio Grande do Sul. The research involved 75 individuals, men and women aged between 18 and 56 years, who regularly practice weightlifting. Instruments such as the Sociodemographic Questionnaire, the Emotional Eating Questionnaire (EEQ), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and the Anxiety Scale (DASS-21) were applied. The results revealed a significant correlation (p < 0.05) between emotional eating and difficulties in emotion regulation, especially in impulse control and emotional clarity. Moreover, anxiety also showed a moderate and significant (p < 0.05) correlation with emotional eating, suggesting that high levels of anxiety are associated with increased food consumption driven by emotions. The study highlights the importance of interventions focused on emotion regulation strategies to reduce the incidence of maladaptive eating behaviors in weightlifters. These interventions may contribute to improving mental health and quality of life in this population.