Effectiveness of Stress Management to Reduce Stress Eating for Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Intervention Studies

A systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of stress management interventions in reducing stress eating in women. The analysis included 60 studies with 119 effect size estimates. Results showed that stress management interventions significantly reduced stress eating (Hedges g = -0.4174, p < 0.001). Short-term effects (before 3 months) were small, while mid-term effects (3-6 months) were moderate. Effects beyond 6 months were small and statistically nonsignificant. The research suggests that stress management could be incorporated into obesity interventions; however, its effects appear to be sustained for approximately 6 months post-intervention.