A comparison of negative affect and disinhibited eating between children with and without parents with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Background Children whose parents have type 2 diabetes (T2D) are at high‐risk for developing T2D. In youth, negative affect has been shown to predict insulin resistance (IR), and disinhibited‐eating behaviors have been linked to IR. It is unknown if youth with a parent with T2D (P‐T2D) report greater psychological and behavioral symptoms than those without a P‐T2D. Objective To compare youth with and without a P‐T2D on symptoms of negative affect and disinhibited‐eating. Methods Nine‐hundred thirty‐two youth (13.3 ± 2.6 years; BMIz 1.06 ± 1.06; 67.8% female; 53.6% people of color; 10.7% with a P‐T2D) completed questionnaires of anxiety and depressive symptoms, eating in the absence of hunger, and emotional‐eating. Loss‐of‐control (LOC)‐eating was assessed by interview. In two separate subsamples, energy intake was explored using laboratory test meals simulating eating in the absence of hunger and LOC‐eating, respectively. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity. In follow‐up analyses, fat mass (kg) and height, and IR were included as covariates, respectively. Results Adjusting for all covariates including adiposity and IR, compared to youth without a P‐T2D, youth with a P‐T2D reported more anxiety and depression symptoms, greater eating in the absence of hunger, and emotional‐eating (ps < 0.05). No significant differences were found for LOC‐eating, or in exploratory analyses of energy intake for either test meal (ps > 0.16). Conclusions Self‐reported negative affect and disinhibited‐eating may be higher among youth with P‐T2D compared to those without P‐T2D. Prospective studies should examine, among those with a P‐T2D, what role such symptoms may play for their subsequent risk for T2D.

Heart Rate Variability and Laboratory-Based Loss-of-Control Eating in Children and Adolescents

“…Total energy consumption (kcal) was determined using ProNutra software version 3.6.04 (Viocare, Inc., Princeton, NJ, USA) by weighing all foods and beverages. Energy intake data from some participants in this cohort have been previously reported [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ].…”