Explanation of the Eating Behavior based on the Executive Functions; The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation

This research aims to explain of eating behavior based on executive function and the mediating role of emotional regulation was performed.

The method of the current research was a descriptive correlation type. The statistical population of the research was all men and women between 30 and 40 years of age in Tehran in 1400, of which 190 people were selected as the research sample using a random multi-stage cluster sampling method method. In this research, the tools of eating behavior (Dutch, 1986), executive functions (Najati, 2013) and cognitive emotional regulation (Garnefsky and Kraij, 2006) were used. Amos-V8.8 software was used to analyze the data. In order to analyze the research data, structural equation modeling method was used.

The research findings showed that the research model has a good fit. The results showed that neurocognitive executive functions negatively and significantly predict eating behavior. Also, the results showed that neurocognitive executive functions positively and significantly predict eating behavior through the mediation of emotional cognitive regulation.

Therefore, executive functions and emotional regulation play an important role in predicting the eating behaviors of overweight and obese people, which should be considered in prevention and treatment programs.