Aim: A discussion of a statement synthesis of the relationship between the concepts of emotional eating and body size recognition. Background: The interrelatedness of the concepts of emotional eating and body size recognition is poorly understood; however, both factors significantly impact weight management. Nurses can be instrumental in developing more effective weight management interventions as a critical step in helping to ameliorate the public health burden of obesity. Design: This discussion article reports a literary statement synthesis. Data sources: Five quantitative research studies from 1996 - 2014 were identified, which examined the relationship between the concepts. Implications for nursing: A relational statement delineating the direct association between the amount of self-reported emotional eating and an adult individual's recognition of their body size was constructed. Construction of a relational statement about emotional eating and recognition of body size is a step in the nursing theory-building process. Conclusion: The constructed relational statement will guide future research and nursing theory development and may ultimately help to construct more effective weight management interventions.
