Emotion-Driven Eating and Overeating Among Fourth Graders: The Roles of Body Image, Academic Achievement, and Peer and School Factors.

Background: Eating patterns such as breakfast consumption and fruit and vegetable intake have been associated with academic achievement and cognitive function.

Method: The purpose of this study was to learn more about psychological (emotion-driven eating) and behavioral (over-eating) eating patterns and motives, and the roles of body image, academic achievement (reading and math), and social supports (peer acceptance and school attachment), among 378 fourth-grade students (55% boys) from 14 classrooms across 6 schools within a large Midwestern urban area.

Results: Results were analyzed through a 2-group (male and female) path analysis.