Comparison of the Levels of Self-Control and Emotion Regulation Strategies among College Students with High and Normal Body Mass Index

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the levels of selfcontrol and emotion regulation strategies among college students with high and normal body mass index (BMI). Materials and Methods: The present crosssectional causaldescriptive study was conducted on female students with a high BMI at the Azad University of Roudehen, Iran, during the academic year of 2018-2019. The sample size was selected by the convenience sampling method (50 girls with high BMI and 50 girls with normal body weight). The data were collected using the selfcontrol scale and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 23) by ANOVA and ttest. Results: According to the results, students with high BMI had lower levels of selfcontrol and positive emotional regulation, compared to those with normal BMI. Moreover, the individuals with high BMI had a higher level of negative emotional regulation, compared to those with normal BMI. Conclusion: Strategies for emotion regulation are very important for selfcontrol, eating styles, and BMI. It is, therefore, suggested to apply this intervention for the treatment of obesity.