Mediation analysis represented as a path model diagram. The model shows the relationship between self-reported emotional eating and body fat percentage as mediated by NAcc DBSI-FF across people with normal weight and people with obesity. The total β effect (Path C) represents the effect of the independent variable without mediators (statistically significant). Direct β effect (Path C’) represents the effect of the independent variable with NAcc DBSI-FF included in the model as a mediator (statistically nonsignificant). The indirect effects (Path A-B) represent the effect of the independent variable through the mediator (statistically significant). *p ≤ 0.05 and ***p ≤ 0.01. ACME, average causal mediation effects; ADE, average direct effects; DBSI, diffusion basis spectrum imaging; FF, fiber fraction; NAcc, nucleus accumbens