Guilty or not? Feelings of guilt about food among college women

Appetite. 2009 Apr;52(2):531-4. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2008.12.004. Epub 2008 Dec 14.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess how frequently and under what circumstances college women (n=55) experience feelings of guilt about food. Data were collected by means of a 1-week food diary. Results showed that a majority of the sample regularly experienced mild feelings of guilt. These feelings were particularly likely to result from eating between-meal snacks in the afternoon or after-dinner eating in the evening. Eating candy and ice cream accounted for the most 'guilty moments'. Eating in certain social situations (e.g., eating at a friend's house) induced relatively more often feelings of guilt.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Bread
  • Feeding Behavior / physiology*
  • Feeding Behavior / psychology*
  • Female
  • Guilt*
  • Humans
  • Ice Cream
  • Nuts
  • Social Behavior
  • Young Adult