Stress-related laboratory eating behavior in adults with obesity and healthy weight

Stress is an important factor in the progression of irregular eating patterns and has an additional exacerbating impact in people with overweight and obesity. Therefore, in this study, the chewing and food intake was observed after standardized acute stress induction, as well as resting, in people with obesity and healthy weight controls. Twenty-eight women and men with obesity (BMI: 32.76 ± 2.25 kg/m2) were matched with regard to sex and age to 28 people with healthy weight (BMI: 22.58 ± 2.04 kg/m2). After two conditions (Trier Social Stress Test vs. resting condition) the chewing frequency and food intake were measured during a standardized laboratory meal on two separate days. Additionally, for manipulation check of stress induction salivary cortisol and two appraisal questionnaires (Primary Appraisal Secondary Appraisal, Visual Analogue Scale) were used. People with obesity showed after stress and resting condition a lower chewing frequency in contrast to healthy weight controls (F(1, 54) = 12.816, p ≤ .001). Thereby, both groups demonstrated a higher chewing frequency after the stress induction than after the resting condition (F(1, 54) = 7.436, p ≤ .01). There was no difference between the healthy weight controls and the people with obesity in food intake. In conclusion, the present data indicate a possible 'obese eating style' with regard to chewing performance. Furthermore, the demonstrated higher chewing frequency after stress induction, in people with obesity and people with healthy weight, might be a stress reduction strategy.