Factors associated with eating behaviors of young and middle-aged adults with overweight and obesity: a systematic review

The escalating prevalence of overweight and obesity among young and middle-aged adults constitutes a significant public health challenge. While modifying dietary behavior is accepted as a critical component of weight management, existing reports regarding the specific drivers of these behaviors remain scattered and lack systematic integration. To address this knowledge gap, this review systematically synthesized the factors associated with eating behaviors within this demographic. Adhering strictly to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol, a comprehensive search across seven electronic databases was conducted, identifying nine eligible cross-sectional studies comprising 7,614 participants. Narrative synthesis categorized the identified associated factors into three overarching themes: psycho-emotional factors, encompassing negative affective states, impulsivity, and emotion regulation deficits; socio-environmental stressors defined by occupational environments and interpersonal dynamics; and maladaptive behavioral patterns such as rapid eating rates and irregular meal timing. These findings critically indicate that eating behaviors in this population often serve as compensatory mechanisms for emotional and environmental strain rather than solely reflecting nutritional choices. Consequently, effective weight management strategies must extend beyond traditional dietary education to incorporate holistic approaches involving emotion regulation, stress management, and behavioral modification. By addressing these upstream non-nutritional determinants and psychological distress, healthcare providers can develop more comprehensive, targeted, and successful interventions to support weight management efforts in young and middle-aged adults.