The associations of mindful and intuitive eating with BMI, depression, anxiety and stress across generations: a cross-sectional study

The study aimed to evaluate the differences between generations and relationship between mindful and intuitive eating with body mass index (BMI), depression, stress, and anxiety. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 547 adults. Online questionnaire including Intuitive Eating Scale–2nd edition (IES-2), Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ), and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale was performed. Gen Z scored highest for “unconditional permission to eat”, and lowest for “interference” (p<0.001). Baby Boomers demonstrated the lowest “conscious nutrition” scores compared to others (p: 0.002). Weak negative correlations were observed between IES-2 scores and BMI (r: −0.165, p<0.001), depression (r: −0.194, p<0.001), anxiety (r: −0.191, p<0.001), and stress (r: −0.100, p: 0.020). MEQ scores were negatively correlated with BMI, depression, anxiety, and stress (r: −0.159, r: −0.364, r: −0.372, r: −0.360, p<0.001). “Eating for physical rather than emotional reasons” showed negative correlation with depression, anxiety, and stress scores (r: −0.259, r: −0.249, r: −0.168, p<0.001).