Researchers looked at how different eating behaviors might affect weight in Black American adults. They reviewed 31 studies to understand patterns like eating with others, meal timing, food cravings, and self-control around food. The biggest finding was that people who struggle to control their eating around food tend to weigh more, regardless of race. Interestingly, Black women with normal weight showed different patterns of trying to restrict their eating compared to other groups. However, researchers found big gaps in what we know about many eating behaviors in Black Americans.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How different eating behaviors like food cravings, meal timing, and eating self-control relate to weight in Black American adults
  • Who participated: Data from 31 different studies, mostly including Black women, with some studies comparing different racial groups
  • Key finding: People who have trouble controlling themselves around food tend to weigh more, and this pattern was the same across racial groups
  • What it means for you: Understanding your eating patterns, especially around self-control with food, may help with weight management, but more research is needed for personalized approaches

The Research Details

This was a scoping review, which means researchers gathered and analyzed existing studies rather than conducting a new experiment. They searched medical databases for studies published between 1946 and 2024 that looked at eating behaviors and weight in Black Americans. They focused on seven specific eating behaviors: eating with others, meal patterns, trouble controlling eating, trying to restrict food, and feelings of hunger, fullness, and cravings.

This type of research is important because it brings together findings from many different studies to see the bigger picture. Since obesity rates are higher in Black Americans, understanding specific eating patterns in this population could help develop better, more targeted approaches to weight management.

The researchers used established guidelines for reviewing studies and searched multiple databases going back decades. However, they found that most research in this area has focused on women, and there weren’t enough studies on some eating behaviors to draw strong conclusions.

What the Results Show

The strongest and most consistent finding was about dietary disinhibition - basically, having trouble controlling eating when around tempting foods. People with higher levels of this behavior tended to have higher body weights, and this pattern was the same for Black and White participants. This suggests that difficulty with eating self-control affects weight similarly across racial groups. The researchers found this pattern held up across multiple studies with different groups of people.

The research revealed interesting patterns about dietary restraint - consciously trying to limit food intake. Black women with normal or low body weight showed lower levels of dietary restraint compared to other groups, but at higher weights, the restraint levels were similar across racial groups. This suggests different relationships between weight control efforts and actual weight in different populations.

This review filled an important gap by specifically focusing on eating behaviors in Black Americans, since most previous research either didn’t include diverse populations or didn’t analyze results by racial groups. The findings about disinhibition being similar across races was notable because it suggests some eating behavior patterns may be universal.

The biggest limitation was insufficient data - there simply weren’t enough studies on many eating behaviors like meal timing, eating with others, hunger, fullness, and cravings in Black Americans. Most studies focused on women, so we don’t know much about patterns in Black men. Also, since this reviewed existing studies, the quality and methods varied between different research projects.

The Bottom Line

Based on current evidence, paying attention to eating self-control - especially around tempting foods - may be important for weight management regardless of race. However, the research suggests that weight control strategies might need to be tailored differently for different populations, particularly regarding food restriction approaches.

This research is most relevant for Black American adults interested in understanding eating patterns and weight, healthcare providers working with diverse populations, and researchers developing weight management programs. However, the findings about eating self-control may apply more broadly.

This research identifies patterns rather than interventions, so it doesn’t provide timelines for benefits. More research is needed to develop and test specific approaches based on these findings.

Want to Apply This Research?

Use the Gram app to:

  • Track situations where you feel you lose control around food - note the time, location, foods involved, and your stress level to identify patterns
  • Practice mindful eating techniques, especially in situations where you typically struggle with food self-control, and log your experiences
  • Weekly review of eating control challenges and successes, looking for patterns in triggers and effective coping strategies over time

This research review identifies patterns in eating behaviors but does not provide medical advice. Individual experiences may vary, and anyone concerned about their weight or eating patterns should consult with a healthcare provider for personalized guidance.