Weight‐loss interventions for improving emotional eating among adults with high body mass index: A systematic review with meta‐analysis and meta‐regression

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of weight‐loss interventions on emotional eating among adults with high body mass index (BMI). METHODS: A systematic review, meta‐analysis and meta‐regression were performed on randomized controlled trials published from inception until 19 March 2021. RESULTS: Thirty‐one studies were included, representing 1203 participants with mean ages ranging from 21.8 to 57.3 years old and BMI 27.2–43.5 kg/m(2). We found small‐to‐medium interventional effects on emotional eating (n = 18; Hedges' g = 0.22; p = 0.01, I (2) = 61.7%), uncontrolled eating (n = 16; Hedges' g = 0.46; p < 0.001, I (2) = 71.6%) and cognitive restraint (n = 18; Hedges' g = 0.42; p < 0.001, I (2) = 75.8%). Small‐to‐medium interventional effects were only found for emotional eating (n = 8; Hedges' g = 0.45; p = 0.02, I (2) = 74.3%) 3‐month post‐intervention, and on BMI (n = 4; Hedges' g = 0.43; p < 0.05, I (2) = 33.4%) and weight (n = 6; Hedges' g = 0.36; p < 0.01, I (2) < 10.4%) 12‐month post‐intervention. Age, male proportion, baseline BMI, attrition rate and intervention length were not significant moderators of the heterogeneity between studies. CONCLUSION: Interventions improved emotional eating and weight loss along a year‐long trajectory.