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. 2025 May 30;12:1458082. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1458082

Table 3.

The total, direct and indirect effect of mindful and intuitive eating, foods and exercise on mental distress.

Variables Direct Indirect
IES - −0.262
MEQ - −0.212
Exercise −0.104 -
Breakfast −0.151 -
Dairy −0.181 -
Fruits −0.235 -
DGLV −0.238 -
Through total causal effect£ −0.909 −0.474
Percentage of direct and indirect effects −0.909/[−0.909 + (−0.474)] = 65.7% −0.474/[−0.909 + (−0.474)] = 34.3%

Overall direct and indirect associations of intuitive eating scale total score (IES), mindful eating questionnaire total score (MEQ), and selected dietary and lifestyle practices (exercise, breakfast, dairy, fruits, dark green leafy vegetables [DGLV]) with mental distress. Standardized regression coefficients are presented. DGLV, Dark green leafy vegetables; HGI, High glycemic index; IES, Intuitive eating scale; MEQ, Mindful eating questionnaire.£Total effect is defined as the sum of direct and indirect effects.