The Satter Eating Competence Model

ecSatter

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At the heart of a good relationship with food is the principle of Eating Competence. Eating Competence, as defined by the Satter Eating Competence Model (ecSatter), is being positive, comfortable, and flexible with eating as well as matter-of-fact and reliable about getting enough to eat of personally enjoyable, nourishing food.¹ Even though ecSatter says nothing at all about what or how much to eat or what to weigh, people who are Eating Competent (EC) have better diets, lower BMIs, superior metabolic profiles, more-positive quality of life indicators, are more active, do better with respect to managing a limited food budget, and do better with respect to parenting with food. Validated ecSatter  measurement evolved from ecSI² through ecSI/LI, a revised version accessible to low-income subjects, to ecSI 2.0, the official version valid across all income levels.³ To get permission to use ecSI 2.0 in clinical practice, education, or research, at no charge, click here.

EC show superior diets

Even though ecSatter doesn’t emphasize eating “healthy” food and avoiding “unhealthy” food, and, instead, gives strong permission to eat preferred food, people who are EC do better nutritionally and with FV availability.

EC show superior wellness, medical nutrition therapy measures

Even though ecSatter gives strong permission to eat preferred food and encourages using fat, salt, and sugar to make food taste good, people who are EC show superior wellness and metabolic indicators.

EC show lower BMI

Even though ecSatter does not encourage striving in any way for weight loss and, instead, encourages eating as much as is desired of preferred food and letting weight find its own level, people who are EC have the same or lower BMIs.

EC did better with low-income food management

Even though ecSatter offers no particular guidance on budgeting or food resource management, low-income EC tend to see themselves as food secure, whereas equally low-income non-EC are more likely to characterize themselves as food insecure. EC do better with respect to managing limited food resources.

EC show lower eating-disorder-related symptomology

Even though ecSatter is about eating, EC affects quality of life and is therefore protective against eating disorders. EC captures positive eating attitudes and behaviors, which both reflect and act as a proxy for other quality of life indicators. EC, mental health, and self-care all depend on detecting, respecting, and responding to feelings and preferences. Direct measures of quality of life (sleep, activity), mental health (emotional, psychological, and social well-being), and physical self-esteem all correlate with EC. EC have lower body dysmorphic and psychological symptoms of eating disorders.

EC showed higher activity

Even though ecSatter says nothing about activity, EC have higher levels of physical activity and indicators of activity.

EC show better parenting with food

Even though ecSatter says nothing about feeding children, EC parents do better with respect to following the Satter Division of Responsibility in Feeding (sDOR) and raising children who have lower nutritional risk.

To keep up with the ecSatter evidence as it emerges, see Evidence-base of Satter Eating Competence Model.