Associations between average step counts, variability in step counts and nonhomeostatic eating

Purpose Nonhomeostatic drives (e.g., reward and negative emotion) for eating are associated with weight gain over time. Higher average and lower intraindividual variability in physical activity (PA) levels are positively associated with health and weight outcomes, but have not been evaluated in relation to nonhomeostatic eating. The aim of this paper is to examine the associations between PA and nonhomeostatic drives for eating. The hypotheses were that average levels of and consistency in PA would be negatively correlated with nonhomeostatic eating. Methods Adult participants ( N = 432) were recruited online and asked to report objectively measured PA using commercially available PA monitors for the previous 7 days and to complete self-report measures of reward-driven and emotional eating. Results Average daily steps ( M = 6519.36) were negatively associated with emotional eating, but were not significantly related to reward-driven eating. Intraindividual variability in steps ( M = 2209.85) was not associated with either type of nonhomeostatic eating. Adjusting for relevant covariates (e.g., age, BMI, gender), average daily step count was negatively associated with emotional eating ( p = 0.01) but not reward-driven eating ( p = 0.31) and variability in step counts was positively associated with reward-driven eating ( p = 0.04) but not emotional eating ( p = 0.52). Conclusion The results suggest that greater average levels and lower variability in PA are related to lower nonhomeostatic eating; thus, complex associations between PA and eating exist, and may impact weight and outcomes of treatment related to eating and weight. Level of evidence V, cross-sectional correlation study.