ArticleFrontiers in nutrition2026
The mediating role of food craving in the relationship between psychological distress and body mass index in adults: a cross-sectional analysis.
Article in Frontiers in nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Background: The etiology of obesity involves complex interactions between psychological distress and negative eating behaviors. However, the specific mechanisms by which negative emotional states physiologically translate into weight gain remain unclear. Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the association of depression, anxiety, and stress with body mass index (BMI) in adults and to investigate the mediating role of food craving in these relationships. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 252 adults aged 19-65. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Food Craving Questionnaire (FCQ) were used, and anthropometric measurements were recorded. Mediation analyses were performed using the Hayes PROCESS macro (Model 4) with 5,000 bootstrap samples. Results: The study found positive correlations between all psychological symptoms, excessive food cravings, and BMI ( Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings were consistent with a mediation model wherein psychological distress was associated with an increase in BMI both directly and indirectly through its link with elevated food cravings. A multidisciplinary approach that includes psychological interventions for emotion regulation and craving management, in addition to medical nutrition therapy, should be adopted for the treatment of obesity.
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