# Changes in eating behavior traits and diet in older prediabetic men during a 3-year lifestyle intervention

## TL;DR

This study shows how changes in eating behaviors in older men with prediabetes are linked to healthier food choices over three years.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific associations between changes in eating behavior traits and dietary changes in older prediabetic men.

## Key findings

- Cognitive restraint increased while uncontrolled and emotional eating decreased during the intervention.
- Decreased uncontrolled eating was linked to reduced intake of sweet and savory pastries and chocolate.
- Lower emotional eating was associated with increased intake of vegetables, fruit, and berries.

## Abstract

Eating behavior traits are linked to diet, but how changes in these traits are associated with dietary changes, particularly in men, remains unclear. Understanding these associations may help develop personalized prevention and treatment strategies for non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to examine how eating behavior traits and food intake change in older Finnish men with prediabetes during a lifestyle intervention, and to explore the associations between these changes.

The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18 was used to assess three eating behavior traits (cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating), and repeated 4-day food records were used to evaluate food intake in 368 prediabetic men aged 50–75 during a 3-year lifestyle intervention.

During the intervention, cognitive restraint increased while uncontrolled eating and emotional eating decreased (FDR-p < 0.001 for all). The intake of fiber-rich foods increased and the intake of foods rich in saturated fat decreased. A decrease in uncontrolled eating associated with decreases in the intake of sweet (FDR-p = 0.02) and savory pastries (FDR-p = 0.01) and chocolate (FDR-p = 0.02). A decrease in emotional eating was associated with a higher intake of vegetables, fruit and berries (FDR-p = 0.01).

A decrease in uncontrolled and emotional eating plays a role in increased intake of vegetables, fruit and berries and decreased intake of energy-dense foods. The findings are essential to consider when developing effective prevention and treatment strategies for type 2 diabetes.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00394-025-03876-7.