Weight-inclusive intuitive eating course associated with reductions in disordered eating in adults: a mixed methods study.
- 1Department of Health Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States.
- 2Department of Physical Therapy, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States.
- 3Department of Atheletics, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
Abstract
Introduction
Many employee health promotion programs encourage lifestyle changes such as eating more fruits and vegetables or getting more physical activity. Most of these programs operate from a weight-normative lens, meaning they encourage such changes with the primary goal of weight change (typically weight loss). However, research indicates that weight-inclusive programs - programs that focus on health behaviors alone, regardless of weight change - may be just as effective at promoting better health and also feel less stigmatizing for participants. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of a weight-inclusive employee wellness program (Intuitive Eating, or IE) and a weight-normative program (Intensive Lifestyle Program, or ILP) on disordered eating, intuitive eating, weight bias internalization, weight bias, weight/shape concerns, and body appreciation of adults working in a university setting.Methods
This study utilized a quasi-experimental, mixed-methods approach and employed 8- (IE) and 12-week (ILP) interventions with validated pre and post questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data was analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVAs and qualitative data was analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA).Results
Participants (n = 42) were 95% white and 98% female. 26 in the IE group and 16 in the ILP group enrolled in the study. Of that sample, 13 participants were interviewed (IE = 6; ILP = 7). The IE program was associated with significantly greater reductions in disordered eating from pre- to post-course compared to the ILP program. There were no statistically significant improvements in weight/shape concerns, IE levels, body appreciation, and weight bias between groups from pre- to post-course. Qualitative analysis found 5 main themes: 1) Influences on Body Image, 2) Diet Culture, 3) Forms of Eating and Exercise, 4) Mental and Emotional Wellbeing, and 5) Self-Care.Discussion
Qualitative analysis provided richer detail from in-depth individual perspectives of participants' attitudes in both groups about eating attitudes/behaviors, body image, and weight bias. Employee wellness programs grounded in weight-inclusive approaches such as intuitive eating may be associated with reductions in disordered eating and provide a non-stigmatizing approach to health promotion in a homogenous employee wellness setting.
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BibTeX
@article{squires2026weightinclusive,
title = {{Weight-inclusive intuitive eating course associated with reductions in disordered eating in adults: a mixed methods study.}},
author = {Nikole Decker Squires and Dawn Clifford and Sarah Mensah Asantewaa and Stephanie Garrison and Nick Galli},
journal = {Frontiers in psychology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1953974},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903091},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Weight-inclusive intuitive eating course associated with reductions in disordered eating in adults: a mixed methods study.
AU - Nikole Decker Squires
AU - Dawn Clifford
AU - Sarah Mensah Asantewaa
AU - Stephanie Garrison
AU - Nick Galli
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
JO - Frontiers in psychology
DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1953974
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903091
AB - Introduction Many employee health promotion programs encourage lifestyle changes such as eating more fruits and vegetables or getting more physical activity. Most of these programs operate from a weight-normative lens, meaning they encourage such changes with the primary goal of weight change (typically weight loss). However, research indicates that weight-inclusive programs - programs that focus on health behaviors alone, regardless of weight change - may be just as effective at promoting better health and also feel less stigmatizing for participants. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of a weight-inclusive employee wellness program (Intuitive Eating, or IE) and a weight-normative program (Intensive Lifestyle Program, or ILP) on disordered eating, intuitive eating, weight bias internalization, weight bias, weight/shape concerns, and body appreciation of adults working in a university setting.Methods This study utilized a quasi-experimental, mixed-methods approach and employed 8- (IE) and 12-week (ILP) interventions with validated pre and post questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data was analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVAs and qualitative data was analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA).Results Participants (n = 42) were 95% white and 98% female. 26 in the IE group and 16 in the ILP group enrolled in the study. Of that sample, 13 participants were interviewed (IE = 6; ILP = 7). The IE program was associated with significantly greater reductions in disordered eating from pre- to post-course compared to the ILP program. There were no statistically significant improvements in weight/shape concerns, IE levels, body appreciation, and weight bias between groups from pre- to post-course. Qualitative analysis found 5 main themes: 1) Influences on Body Image, 2) Diet Culture, 3) Forms of Eating and Exercise, 4) Mental and Emotional Wellbeing, and 5) Self-Care.Discussion Qualitative analysis provided richer detail from in-depth individual perspectives of participants' attitudes in both groups about eating attitudes/behaviors, body image, and weight bias. Employee wellness programs grounded in weight-inclusive approaches such as intuitive eating may be associated with reductions in disordered eating and provide a non-stigmatizing approach to health promotion in a homogenous employee wellness setting.
SN - 1664-1078
ER -