Mindful eating, intuitive eating and body image in adolescents: is the “Me in the meal” the reflection of “Me in the mirror?”

Graphical abstract Purpose During adolescence, eating habits are substantially formed and the basis of health is established. The purpose of this study is to assess the association between mindful eating, intuitive eating and body image among adolescents. Design/methodology/approach This research was a cross-sectional study. In the study, 485 Turkish adolescents participated. Participants were contacted over the internet. Mindful Eating Questionnaire-30, Intuitive Eating Scale-2 and Stunkard Figure Rating Scale were used in the study. Findings Of the 485 adolescents participated in the study between the ages of 10 and 19, the mean age was found to be 15.3 ± 2.04 years. It was determined that 75% of them had a healthy body weight. The total score for the Mindful Eating Questionnaire-30, Intuitive Eating Scale-2 and Stunkard Figure Rating Scale was 3.3 ± 0.51, 3.6 ± 0.58 and 0.5 ± 1.49, respectively. Mindful eating and intuitive eating have shown positive correlations with each other ( p < 0.05). Body image dissatisfaction was negatively associated with both mindful eating and intuitive eating ( p < 0.05). Those who exercised had higher scores on mindful eating and intuitive eating than those who did not exercise ( p < 0.05). Obese individuals were found to have significantly higher body image dissatisfaction than individuals with healthy body weight. Research limitations/implications The strengths of this study include the inclusion of both genders and the comprehensive evaluation of all subscales of mindful eating and intuitive eating. To the authors’ knowledge, no previous study has simultaneously examined mindful eating, intuitive eating, body mass index, body image dissatisfaction and physical activity status in adolescents, making this research a valuable contribution to the field. However, the use of self-reported measures for dietary behaviors and anthropometric data may introduce response bias and measurement errors. Additionally, the cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causal relationships. While online data collection allowed for a wider range of participants, it also posed challenges regarding data accuracy and participant engagement. Future research should consider longitudinal designs and objective anthropometric assessments to strengthen the findings and explore the long-term impact of mindful and intuitive eating behaviors in adolescents. Originality/value A positive relationship was found between mindful eating and intuitive eating in adolescents. This study found an association between mindful eating, intuitive eating and body image dissatisfaction. Further research is needed to estimate stronger predictors of this association in adolescents.