Keywords: Food intake, Emotion, Overweight/Obesity

Background:

Emotions have a powerful effect on food choices and eating habits. There is a clear relationship between eating, emotions, and increased caloric intake. Understanding this relationship is crucial for improving weight-loss programs and determining how emotions influence dietary behavior in different emotional states.

Aim of the study:

1. To identify emotional eating in individuals with overweight/obesity compared to those with normal weight.
2. To distinguish differences in food intake based on rural versus urban habitats.

Methodology:

Study Design: This is a cross-sectional observational study analyzing the relationship between individuals’ food intake and emotions. The Emotional Eater Questionnaire will be used to classify participants based on their scores:
• 0-5: Non-Emotional Eater
• 6-10: Slightly Emotional Eater
• 11-20: Emotional Eater
• 21-30: Highly Emotional Eater

A systematic random sampling method will be used to select 324 individuals from La Paca Health Center and an equal number from San Diego Health Center, both in Lorca (Murcia, Spain).

Inclusion criteria: Participants aged between 14 and 75 years, without eating disorders or anxiety disorders.
Exclusion criteria: Individuals younger than 14 or older than 75, those diagnosed with eating disorders, or those undergoing treatment with anxiolytics/antidepressants.

Sociodemographic variables (age, sex, country of origin, education level) and anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI, waist circumference) will be collected. For menopausal women, the date of their last menstruation will be recorded.

The questionnaire will be administered anonymously at the health centers between February 2026 and July 2026, under the supervision of a physician or nurse.

Statistical Analysis: Student’s t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson’s r correlation coefficient.

Ethical and Legal Considerations

The study will be approved by the Ethics Committee of Health Area III. Participants will provide signed informed consent. The study will adhere to the Declaration of Helsinki.

Results:

Conclusions: