{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,20]],"date-time":"2026-05-20T17:10:43Z","timestamp":1779297043409,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"17","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]],"date-time":"2025-08-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1756425600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: There is growing interest in non-diet approaches to support health, well-being, and performance in different populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 12-week intuitive eating (IE) intervention on participants\u2019 body composition, body image, eating behaviors, and athletic performance. Methods: The study included both an intervention group and a control group. It was conducted between September and December 2021. Participants were recruited from a sports center in Istanbul, where they had applied for nutrition and exercise counseling. Inclusion criteria included being 18\u201365 years old, not having engaged in regular physical activity in the past month, having no chronic disease, and not using any regular medications. Participants were not randomly assigned to groups; allocation was based on availability and willingness to attend the intervention sessions. The\u2009study involved 57 participants\u2009who were healthy\u2009adults between 18 and 65\u2009years old and\u2009followed a structured\u2009exercise program. At the beginning of the study, a demographic questionnaire was administered. The anthropometric measurements\u2009were taken at the\u2009beginning and at\u2009the end of the\u2009intervention. In addition,\u2009validated performance and psychometric assessment tools were used, including the Cooper test for cardiovascular endurance, the Davies test for upper-body agility, and the 1-RM bench press for muscular strength, alongside standardized self-report questionnaires for eating attitudes (EAT-26), IE (IES-2), and body image (BCS). Results: The intervention group did\u2009not show any\u2009statistically significant changes\u2009in body composition (p &gt; 0.05). The post-intervention means\u2009of the intervention\u2009and control groups\u2009were not statistically different (p &gt; 0.05). The intervention group\u2009showed significant improvements\u2009in cardiovascular endurance,\u2009agility, and strength performance\u2009scores compared to the\u2009control group after\u2009the intervention (p &lt; 0.05). The intervention group showed\u2009significant improvements in\u2009body image scores (p &lt; 0.05) and\u2009eating attitude scores (p\u2009&lt; 0.05). The\u2009post-intervention eating attitude\u2009and body image scores of the intervention\u2009group were significantly\u2009different from those\u2009of the control group (p &lt; 0.05). The results of\u2009the correlation analysis\u2009showed a significant\u2009positive correlation between intuitive\u2009eating and body\u2009image (r = 0.455; p\u2009&lt; 0.05) and\u2009a significant negative correlation between IE and disordered\u2009eating attitudes (r = \u22120.449; p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest\u2009that longer-term interventions\u2009may be beneficial\u2009and warrant further investigation. IE may serve as a promising strategy to enhance psychological well-being and performance outcomes without focusing on weight control.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu17172824","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]],"date-time":"2025-08-29T16:18:15Z","timestamp":1756484295000},"page":"2824","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Intuitive Eating Intervention in Physically Active Adults: Effects on Anthropometry, Athletic Performance, Eating Attitudes, and Body Image"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Meltem P\u0131r\u0131l","family":"\u015eenol","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Health Sciences, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul 34752, T\u00fcrkiye"},{"name":"Pirilla Nutrition Consultancy, Istanbul 34365, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9936-8475","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ece","family":"\u00d6ne\u015f","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul 34752, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0494-301X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Murat","family":"Ba\u015f","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul 34752, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"G\u00f6zde","family":"Ar\u0131t\u0131c\u0131 \u00c7olak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul 34752, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"137","DOI":"10.1037\/a0030893","article-title":"The Intuitive Eating Scale\u20132: Item refinement and psychometric evaluation with college women and men","volume":"60","author":"Tylka","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Couns. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Tribole, E., and Resch, E. (1995). Intuitive Eating: A Recovery Book for the Chronic Dieter: Rediscover the Pleasures of Eating and Rebuild Your Body Image, St. Martin\u2019s Press."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1073","DOI":"10.1002\/eat.23509","article-title":"Intuitive eating and its psychological correlates: A meta-analysis","volume":"54","author":"Linardon","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Eat. Disord."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1016\/j.appet.2013.06.082","article-title":"Intuitive eating is associated with interoceptive sensitivity. Effects on body mass index","volume":"70","author":"Herbert","year":"2013","journal-title":"Appetite"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"166","DOI":"10.1016\/j.appet.2015.07.004","article-title":"Is intuitive eating the same as flexible dietary control? Their links to each other and well-being could provide an answer","volume":"95","author":"Tylka","year":"2015","journal-title":"Appetite"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1757","DOI":"10.1017\/S1368980013002139","article-title":"Review article relationships between intuitive eating and health indicators: Literature review","volume":"17","author":"Drinkwater","year":"2014","journal-title":"Public. Health Nutr."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1073","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2023-106994","article-title":"2023 International Olympic Committee\u2019s (IOC) consensus statement on relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs)","volume":"57","author":"Mountjoy","year":"2023","journal-title":"Br. J. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Thomson, J., and Almstedt, H.C. (2025). Intuitive Eating and the Female Athlete Triad in Collegiate Runners. Nutrients, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu17142337"},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Rak\u0131c\u0131o\u011flu, N., Tek, N., Ayaz, A., and Pekcan, A. (2010). Yemek ve Besin Foto\u011fraf Katalo\u011fu \u00d6l\u00e7\u00fc ve Miktarlar, Ata Ofset Matbaac\u0131l\u0131k."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"343","DOI":"10.1037\/h0060689","article-title":"The appraisal of body-cathexis: Body-cathexis and the self","volume":"17","author":"Secord","year":"1953","journal-title":"J. Consult. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"26","article-title":"V\u00fccut alg\u0131s\u0131 \u00f6l\u00e7e\u011fi","volume":"1","year":"1993","journal-title":"Psikiyatr. Psikol. Psikofarmakol. (3P) Derg."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"391","DOI":"10.1016\/j.appet.2017.04.017","article-title":"Turkish version of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2: Validity and reliability among university students","volume":"114","author":"Bas","year":"2017","journal-title":"Appetite"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.1017\/S0033291700030762","article-title":"The Eating Attitudes Test: An index of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa","volume":"9","author":"Garner","year":"1979","journal-title":"Psychol. Med."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"871","DOI":"10.1017\/S0033291700049163","article-title":"The eating attitudes test: Psychometric features and clinical correlates","volume":"12","author":"Garner","year":"1982","journal-title":"Psychol. Med."},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"57","article-title":"Yeme Tutum Testi k\u0131sa formunun (YTT-26) \u00dcniversite \u00f6rnekleminde T\u00fcrk\u00e7eye uyarlanmas\u0131 ve psikometrik \u00f6zelliklerinin de\u011ferlendirilmesi","volume":"40","year":"2019","journal-title":"Psikol. \u00c7al\u0131\u015fmalar\u0131"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.1968.03140030033008","article-title":"A means of assessing maximal oxygen intake: Correlation between field and treadmill testing","volume":"203","author":"Cooper","year":"1968","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Kraemer, W.J., Ratamess, N.A., Fry, A.C., and French, D.N. (2006). Strength testing: Development and evaluation of methodology. Physiological Assessment of Human Fitness, Human Kinetics. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1123\/jsr.9.1.35","article-title":"Test-retest reliability of the closed kinetic chain upper extremity stability test: A clinical field test","volume":"9","author":"Goldbeck","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Sport. Rehabil."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106184","DOI":"10.1016\/j.appet.2022.106184","article-title":"Reciprocal associations between intuitive eating and positive body image components: A multi-wave, cross-lagged study","volume":"178","author":"Linardon","year":"2022","journal-title":"Appetite"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101627","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eatbeh.2022.101627","article-title":"Positive body image, intuitive eating, and psychosocial functioning among older women: Testing an integrated model","volume":"45","author":"Rodgers","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eat. Behav."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"369","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bodyim.2023.03.018","article-title":"Body image explains differences in intuitive eating between men and women: Examining indirect effects across negative and positive body image","volume":"45","author":"Murray","year":"2023","journal-title":"Body Image"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cheng, Z., Gao, X., Yang, C., Brytek-Matera, A., and He, J. (2022). Effects of online and face-to-face intuitive eating interventions on body image and eating behaviors among women in China: A feasibility study. Nutrients, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/nu14091761"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhu, Y., Gao, J., Gao, Q., Chen, D., and Zeng, Z. (2024). Association between body weight perception and intuitive eating among undergraduate students in China: The mediating role of body image. Front. Nutr., 10.","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2023.1288257"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2625","DOI":"10.1002\/jclp.23569","article-title":"Longitudinal association between self-compassion and intuitive eating: Testing emotion regulation and body image flexibility as mediating variables","volume":"79","author":"Messer","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Clin. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101796","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eatbeh.2023.101796","article-title":"Higher intuitive eating is associated with lower adiposity in midlife women","volume":"50","author":"Owens","year":"2023","journal-title":"Eat. Behav."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Green, H.L., and Garc\u00eda, L.I. (2025). Intuitive eating and its associations with psychological and physical health indicators among rural US adults. J. Health Psychol.","DOI":"10.1177\/13591053251336605"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107904","DOI":"10.1016\/j.appet.2025.107904","article-title":"Associations between intuitive eating, overall diet quality, and physical health indicators: Results of the PREDISE study","volume":"207","author":"Sire","year":"2025","journal-title":"Appetite"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2266","DOI":"10.1080\/09603123.2025.2492362","article-title":"Evaluation of the relationship between intuitive eating, mindful eating, body weight, and eating disorders: Path analysis research on future health professionals","volume":"35","author":"Ayhan","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Health Res."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"326","DOI":"10.1080\/09637486.2025.2462185","article-title":"The associations of mindful and intuitive eating with BMI, depression, anxiety and stress across generations: A cross-sectional study","volume":"76","author":"Bayram","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int. J. Food Sci. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Albajri, E., and Naseeb, M. (2023). Sex differences in intuitive eating and its relationship with body mass index among adults aged 18\u201340 years in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Front. Nutr., 10.","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2023.1214480"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1111\/1747-0080.12729","article-title":"Weight-neutral interventions in young people with high body mass index: A systematic review","volume":"80","author":"Hoare","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nutr. Diet."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"639","DOI":"10.1007\/s40519-020-00904-9","article-title":"Are anthropometric measurements an indicator of intuitive and mindful eating?","volume":"26","author":"Bilici","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eat. Weight. Disord.-Stud. Anorex. Bulim. Obes."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e19","DOI":"10.1017\/jns.2023.11","article-title":"Emotional and intuitive eating: An emerging approach to eating behaviours related to obesity","volume":"12","author":"Akbulut","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Nutr. Sci."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"Yayan, G., and Karaca, E. (2019). Sezgisel Yeme Davran\u0131\u015f\u0131n\u0131n V\u00fccut Kompozisyonu ve Baz\u0131 Biyokimyasal Parametreler \u00dczerine Etkisi. [Master\u2019s Thesis, Ac\u0131badem Mehmet Ali Ayd\u0131nlar \u00dcniversitesi]."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101844","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eatbeh.2024.101844","article-title":"Intuitive eating and its influence on self-reported weight and eating behaviors","volume":"52","author":"Giacone","year":"2024","journal-title":"Eat. Behav."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"108147","DOI":"10.1016\/j.appet.2025.108147","article-title":"Intuitive eating may underlie the link between food insecurity and binge eating in college students","volume":"214","author":"Rezeppa","year":"2025","journal-title":"Appetite"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101606","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eatbeh.2022.101606","article-title":"Intuitive eating and dietary intake","volume":"45","author":"Jackson","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eat. Behav."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2751","DOI":"10.1080\/07448481.2021.1996368","article-title":"A complex relationship between intuitive eating and diet quality among university students","volume":"71","author":"Lopez","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Am. Coll. Health"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1547","DOI":"10.1002\/eat.24466","article-title":"Acceptability and Efficacy of a Web-Based, Intuitive Eating-Focused Single Session Intervention for Recurrent Binge Eating: A Randomized Controlled Trial","volume":"58","author":"Messer","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int. J. Eat. Disord."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"709","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jand.2020.10.019","article-title":"The influence of mindful eating and\/or intuitive eating approaches on dietary intake: A systematic review","volume":"121","author":"Grider","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Acad. Nutr. Diet."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1099","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jneb.2022.08.008","article-title":"Intuitive eating intervention and diet quality in adults: A systematic literature review","volume":"54","author":"Bosker","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Nutr. Educ. Behav."}],"container-title":["Nutrients"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/17\/17\/2824\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T18:35:46Z","timestamp":1760034946000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/17\/17\/2824"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]]},"references-count":41,"journal-issue":{"issue":"17","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9]]}},"alternative-id":["nu17172824"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/nu17172824","relation":{},"ISSN":["2072-6643"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2072-6643","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,29]]}}}