Emotional Eating Interventions for Adults Living With Overweight and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Behaviour Change Techniques

D Power; A Jones; C Keyworth; P Dhir; A Griffiths; K Shepherd; J Smith; G Traviss-Turner; J Matu; L Ells

doi:10.1111/jhn.13410

Emotional Eating Interventions for Adults Living With Overweight and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Behaviour Change Techniques

J Hum Nutr Diet. 2025 Feb;38(1):e13410. doi: 10.1111/jhn.13410.

Authors

D Power¹, A Jones², C Keyworth³, P Dhir¹, A Griffiths¹, K Shepherd¹, J Smith⁴, G Traviss-Turner³, J Matu¹, L Ells¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Health, Obesity Institute, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK.
² School of Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
³ School of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
⁴ School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, Tees Valley, UK.

Abstract

Background: Emotional eating (EE) is a barrier to the long-term success of weight loss interventions. Psychological interventions targeting EE have been shown to reduce EE scores and weight (kg), though the mechanisms remain unclear. This review and meta-analysis aimed to identify the specific behaviour change techniques (BCTs) associated with improved outcomes.

Methods: This is a review update and extension, with new studies extracted from searches of CINAHL, PsycINFO, MEDLINE and EMBASE 1 January 2022 to 31 April 2023. EE interventions for adults with BMI > 25 kg/m² were considered for inclusion. Paper screening, extraction, BCT-coding and risk of bias were completed using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist, Behaviour Change Taxonomy v1 (BCTTv1) and Risk of Bias2 (RoB2)/Risk of Bias In Non-randomised Studies (ROBINS-I) tool. Narrative syntheses and random effects multi-level meta-analyses were conducted.

Results: In total, 6729 participants were included across 47 studies (13 identified in the update). Forty-two studies contributed to the pooled estimate for the impact of interventions on EE (SMD = -0.99 [95% CI: -0.73 to -1.25], p < 0.001). Thirty-two studies contributed to the pooled estimate for the impact of interventions on weight (-4.09 kg [95% CI: -2.76 to -5.43 kg], p < 0.001). Five BCTs related to identity, values and self-regulation were associated with notable improvements to both weight and EE ('incompatible beliefs', 'goal setting outcome'. 'review outcome goals', 'feedback on behaviour' and 'pros/cons').

Conclusion: Implementation and evaluation of the highlighted BCTs are required. Weight management services should consider screening patients for EE to tailor interventions to individual needs.

Keywords: behaviour change technique; emotional eating; obesity; psychological intervention; systematic review; weight management.

Publication types

Systematic Review
Meta-Analysis
Review

MeSH terms

Adult
Behavior Therapy* / methods
Eating / psychology
Emotions*
Feeding Behavior / psychology
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Obesity* / psychology
Obesity* / therapy
Overweight* / psychology
Overweight* / therapy
Weight Loss

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.