Unveiling Emotional Eating Heterogeneity in Iranian Young Adults: A Latent Profile Analysis of Executive Functions, Emotion Regulation and Reinforcement Sensitivity

Background: While emotion regulation, executive function and reinforcement sensitivity play central roles in emotional eating, few studies have investigated these variables in non-Western societies. Method: This study used latent profile analysis (LPA) to analyze 10 subscales from the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version to identify emotional eating patterns among 1147 Iranian university students (73.8% female, mean age = 21.44 years). Results: The analysis revealed five distinct eating behavior patterns: 1) weakly balanced, 2) emotionally rewarding-driven, 3) capable and adaptive, 4) vulnerable and high-risk, and 5) balanced with threat sensitivity. These profiles revealed different patterns of emotional regulation and eating behavior. The behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and behavioral activation system (BAS) sensitivities between profiles showed significant differences (p < .001), with the Capable and Adaptive profiles showing the highest BIS score (M = 15.22) and the reward-driven profiles displaying an elevated BAS, whereas the FFFS sensitivities remained stable. Discussion: The findings showed that women and older participants were more likely to fall into vulnerable eating profile categories. The eating habits of Iranians are influenced by their cultural background, fasting customs and practices of eating together. Research evidence supports a total eating disorder model that includes temperament factors but shows that cultural differences in the treatment of eating disorders and obesity need to be recognized. Conclusions: Analysis of the evolution of eating patterns through biological indicators is needed to develop enhanced treatment protocols.