(PS6-B39) The Role of Self-control in Distress Associated with Rigid Healthy Eating

Introduction: Low self-control has been shown to be associated with general psychological impairment, as well as impairment specifically associated with eating behavior like food addiction and emotional eating. Rigid healthy eating, or a preoccupation with healthy eating that often involves finding a sense of identity in eating a healthy diet, can be normative but in some cases can be associated with psychosocial impairment.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate whether self-control plays a role in the psychosocial impairment associated with rigid healthy eating, or healthy eating impairment.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of college students was conducted on SONA at the University of South Alabama. This study involved participation in an online survey, consisting of measures of rigid healthy eating behaviors, healthy eating impairment and self-control. An interaction term for rigid healthy and self-control was created. This interaction term was then entered into a regression analysis as a predictor of healthy eating impairment, controlling for BMI, gender, and age.

Results: The interaction term was found to significantly predict healthy eating impairment (B =-.206, SE = .062, p = .001). At lower levels of self-control, the rigid healthy eating and healthy eating impairment relationship is stronger than at higher levels of self-control.

Discussion: One reason for the existence of impairment in the context of rigid healthy eating may be an individual’s inability to adhere to their healthy dietary standards due to low levels of self-control. Future research should try to understand if lapses in healthy eating adherence might lead to increased restriction, compensatory behavior, shame, guilt, and/or depression.