Intuitive eating and its associations with psychological and physical health indicators among rural U.S. adults.

This study focused on the prevalence of intuitive eating and its associations with psychological and physical health indicators among rural U.S. adults (N = 187). Intuitive eating, measured by the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), was practiced by 13.9% of participants and was significantly associated with better psychological health outcomes, including lower anxiety, depression, and perceived stress, as well as higher self-esteem. After controlling for demographic factors, intuitive eating was inversely related to body mass index (BMI) but showed no significant associations with high blood pressure or cholesterol. These findings suggest intuitive eating may be a promising non-diet approach to support psychological well-being and weight management in rural populations, though further research with randomized sampling and experimental designs is needed to confirm its effects on physical health.