INTRODUCTION:

Locus of control and stages of change towards healthy eating may be related with eating behaviour. However, studies that evaluate the relationship between Locus Control and eating behaviour dimensions are scarce, and studies were found evaluating the relationship between stages of change and eating behaviour dimensions.

OBJECTIVES:

To study the relationships between eating behaviour and health locus of control and stages of change towards healthy eating among Portuguese higher education students.

METHODOLOGY:

Besides health locus of control and stages of change towards healthy eating, the following eating behaviour dimensions were assessed: external and emotional eating, dietary restraint (rigid and flexible control of eating behaviour), binge eating and eating self-efficacy.

RESULTS:

267 students (63.7% females; 18 to 27 years) were assessed. Among males, eating behaviour had no significant associations with locus of control. Among females, binge eating was negatively associated with internal locus of control; eating self-efficacy presented a mixed association with internal locus of control, depending on the factor used to assess it. Regarding stages of change, participants in the maintenance stage presented lower external and binge eating (both sexes), lower emotional eating and higher eating self-efficacy (women) and higher rigid control among men but higher flexible control among women, when compared to those in (pre-)contemplation.

CONCLUSIONS:

Stages of change and locus of control are related to eating behaviour among higher education students and may be useful to design early and sex-directed interventions.

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