A Comparative Study of Eating Behaviour between Obese and Non-ObeseAdults with respect to Gender

Abstract

In order to understand an escalation in cases of obesity, one of the primary highlighted
aspect; the ‘behavior’associated with eating, has to be reflected upon. The main aim of the study was
to understand and evaluate the eating behaviour in adults with high body mass index. The research
tool applied was Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ R-18) with three dimensions: cognitive
restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating. Research sample constituted of 120 equally
grouped male and female adults; 60 obese individuals and 60 control individuals; in the age range of
20-60 years, using purposive sampling technique as a method of selection from clinics of Ahmedabad
city, Gujarat. Method of t-test was performed to analyse the data statistically. Results indicated lower
cognitive restraint, higher uncontrolled eating and higher emotional eating in individuals with high
BMI compared to their control counterparts. Eating behaviour is an essential determining factor in
maintenance of body weight.