{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,8]],"date-time":"2026-10-08T04:32:45Z","timestamp":1791433965125,"version":"4.3.3"},"reference-count":125,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,27]],"date-time":"2025-10-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1761523200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Nutr."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Context<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The COVID-19 pandemic intensified mental health issues and increased emotional eating (EE), a coping mechanism, where food is consumed in response to emotions rather than hunger. During the pandemic, gender-specific EE patterns were observed, with women reporting elevated EE levels in response to stress, anxiety, and depression due to various social and psychological factors.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study primarily focused on examining gender differences in EE during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a secondary outcome, it aimed to explore predictors of EE.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Data sources and extraction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This systematic review was pre-registered (PROSPERO CRD42023421727) and adhered to PRESS and PRISMA guidelines. Studies published between March 2020 and August 2024 were identified across Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and PsycINFO. The quality assessment was performed using the \u201cCritical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies.\u201d The meta-analysis was conducted following MOOSE guidelines.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Data analysis<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Of 14,347 studies identified, 30 met inclusion criteria (only if population \u226518\u202fyears, without clinical diagnoses, gender-specific analysis regarding EE, observational studies with original data collection during COVID-19 pandemic), with 16 incorporated into the meta-analysis. Gender significantly moderated pandemic-related stress. Higher EE scores in women were linked to isolation and caregiving responsibilities, while men\u2019s EE often appeared as reward-seeking. Across diverse measures and regions, women consistently exhibited higher EE scores (Cohen\u2019s\n                      <jats:italic>d<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.39). Young adults and students showed a stronger association with EE, suggesting heightened vulnerability. Key predictors included increased food intake, COVID-19-related stress and lifestyle changes, sleep quality, and physical activity.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The predominance of cross-sectional designs limits the ability to draw causal conclusions, and selection bias in studies, often targeting specific groups, restricts generalizability. Future longitudinal studies are needed to assess causality and explore the inferences to additional factors, such as socioeconomic status and mental health. Gender-sensitive interventions are suggested to address EE risks, particularly in women.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Systematic review registration<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      PROSPERO (CRD42023421727).\n                      <jats:uri>https:\/\/www.crd.york.ac.uk\/prospero\/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023421727<\/jats:uri>\n                      .\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2025.1680872","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,27]],"date-time":"2025-10-27T05:18:49Z","timestamp":1761542329000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":17,"title":["Feeding the feelings: gender differences in emotional eating during COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Christopher","family":"Zaiser","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marie","family":"Pahlenkemper","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gerrit","family":"Brandt","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cristina","family":"Ballero Reque","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Luisa","family":"Sabel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nora M.","family":"Laskowski","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Georgios","family":"Paslakis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.23750\/abm.v91i1.9397","article-title":"Who declares COVID-19 a pandemic","volume":"91","author":"Cucinotta","year":"2020","journal-title":"Acta Biomed"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2100920","DOI":"10.2807\/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.41.2100920","article-title":"Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection with the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant: second interim results of a living systematic review and meta-analysis, 1 January to 25 August 2021","volume":"26","author":"Harder","year":"2021","journal-title":"Euro Surveill"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8433","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18168433","article-title":"Will nothing be the same again?: changes in lifestyle during COVID-19 pandemic and consequences on mental health","volume":"18","author":"Caroppo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100371","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbef.2020.100371","article-title":"Economic impact of government interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic: international evidence from financial markets","volume":"27","author":"Ashraf","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Behav Exp Finance"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1016\/j.euroneuro.2021.10.864","article-title":"The impact of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic on stress resilience and mental health: a critical review across waves","volume":"55","author":"Manchia","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eur Neuropsychopharmacol"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2743","DOI":"10.1007\/s10389-022-01704-4","article-title":"Has the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown worsened eating disorders symptoms among patients with eating disorders? 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