ANXIETY symptoms were positively associated with grazing behaviour and higher glycated haemoglobin levels among adults with type 2 diabetes, according to a recent cross-sectional study conducted in a public hospital setting. The findings suggest that psychological distress may contribute to maladaptive eating patterns that could affect glycaemic management.

Anxiety Symptoms and Clinical Characteristics

The study included 157 adults with type 2 diabetes aged 20–64 years, with a mean age of 54.71±7.29 years. Most participants were female and had been living with diabetes for an average of 11±8.3 years. The majority were receiving insulin therapy and did not have access to ongoing nutritional follow up.

Anthropometric assessment showed that 67.52% of participants were classified as overweight based on body mass index, with a mean body mass index of 30±5.5 kg/m². However, arm circumference measurements indicated that 54.78% were classified as eutrophic. Neck circumference assessment revealed that 78.98% were at increased cardiovascular risk.

Most participants with available laboratory evaluations had fasting blood glucose concentrations above recommended targets. A similar pattern was observed for glycated haemoglobin levels. Researchers also identified a weak negative correlation between glycated haemoglobin and arm circumference (r=−0.181; p=0.029). A further negative correlation was observed between duration of diabetes and arm circumference (r=−0.144; p=0.036).

Anxiety Symptoms Associated with Glycaemic Control

Assessment of psychological status using the Beck Anxiety Inventory showed that 16.56% of participants experienced moderate anxiety symptoms, while 21.66% reported severe symptoms. Although most participants demonstrated minimal anxiety symptom levels overall, higher anxiety scores were associated with poorer glycaemic control.

Specifically, anxiety symptom scores showed a statistically significant positive correlation with glycated haemoglobin levels: (r=0.174; p=0.035). In addition, 42.46% of participants were using psychotropic medication, despite relatively low rates of formally diagnosed psychiatric disorders. Individuals receiving these medications exhibited significantly higher anxiety symptom levels (p<0.001).

Grazing Behaviour and Psychological Distress

The analysis also identified a significant relationship between anxiety symptoms and grazing behaviour, an eating pattern characterised by repetitive food consumption. Total anxiety symptom scores were positively correlated with grazing behaviour scores: (r=0.267; p=0.001).

Further regression analysis demonstrated that anxiety symptom scores remained positively associated with compulsive grazing behaviour regardless of psychotropic medication use. These findings suggest that anxiety symptoms may independently contribute to maladaptive eating behaviours in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Conclusion

The authors concluded that understanding the relationship between anxiety symptoms and grazing behaviour may be important for improving diabetes management. The results highlight the potential value of considering psychological wellbeing alongside metabolic and nutritional factors when caring for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Reference

Inete MB et al. Association between anxiety symptoms and grazing behavior in people with type 2 diabetes. J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2026;DOI:10.1007/s10880-026-10156-x.

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