Mediating effect of food disgust between depression/anxiety and avoidant restrictive eating.
Chammas, Georgio Hallit, Souheil Abou Nader, Lea Chammas, Michael Fekih-Romdhane, Feten Obeid, Sahar Haddad, Georges
Chammas, Georgio
Hallit, Souheil
Abou Nader, Lea
Chammas, Michael
Fekih-Romdhane, Feten
Obeid, Sahar
Haddad, Georges
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Date
2025-10-29
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Abstract
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder characterized by restrictive eating pattern behavior such as severe picky eating, fear of aversive consequences of eating, and lack of interest in food. Data about the subject is minimal and can be influenced by food disgust and mental health issues like anxiety or depression. Therefore, this research explores whether feeling of disgust towards food help explain the link between ARFID symptoms, anxiety and depression in a group of Lebanese adults.
This study took place between September and December 2024 using a cross-sectional design. A total of 396 participants (mean age was 28.34 years; 26.5% females) were recruited using a snowball sampling method and completed an online self-administered questionnaire through Google Forms.
The results of the mediation analysis indicate that food disgust partially mediates the association between depression/anxiety and ARFID symptoms. Higher depression and anxiety were highly associated with higher food disgust, whereas increased food disgust was crucially associated with increased ARFID symptoms. Finally, higher levels of depression and anxiety were significantly correlated to greater ARFID symptoms.
The study emphasizes the relationship between food disgust on ARFID symptoms and anxiety in adults. Future research examining the connection between ARFID symptoms and anxiety in adults is essential for gaining deeper insight into the underlying mechanisms and for guiding the development of therapies that effectively target disgust-driven food aversions, and the importance of early emotional screening and individualized treatment to support nutritional rehabilitation.
This study examined whether food disgust explains the link between anxiety, depression, and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) symptoms. Among 396 Lebanese adults, higher anxiety and depression were associated with greater food disgust, which in turn was linked to more severe ARFID symptoms. These findings suggest that treating food disgust, along with emotional screening and personalized treatment, may improve eating behaviors in individuals with mental health struggles.
This study took place between September and December 2024 using a cross-sectional design. A total of 396 participants (mean age was 28.34 years; 26.5% females) were recruited using a snowball sampling method and completed an online self-administered questionnaire through Google Forms.
The results of the mediation analysis indicate that food disgust partially mediates the association between depression/anxiety and ARFID symptoms. Higher depression and anxiety were highly associated with higher food disgust, whereas increased food disgust was crucially associated with increased ARFID symptoms. Finally, higher levels of depression and anxiety were significantly correlated to greater ARFID symptoms.
The study emphasizes the relationship between food disgust on ARFID symptoms and anxiety in adults. Future research examining the connection between ARFID symptoms and anxiety in adults is essential for gaining deeper insight into the underlying mechanisms and for guiding the development of therapies that effectively target disgust-driven food aversions, and the importance of early emotional screening and individualized treatment to support nutritional rehabilitation.
This study examined whether food disgust explains the link between anxiety, depression, and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) symptoms. Among 396 Lebanese adults, higher anxiety and depression were associated with greater food disgust, which in turn was linked to more severe ARFID symptoms. These findings suggest that treating food disgust, along with emotional screening and personalized treatment, may improve eating behaviors in individuals with mental health struggles.
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© 2025. The Author(s).