A cross-sectional study on the correlates of food addiction symptoms in adolescents seeking treatment for obesity: eating attitudes and gender differences

Torun, Yasemin Taş; İÇEN, Sarper; Gül, Hesna; Döğer, Esra

doi:10.1080/10550887.2021.1990638

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Eating disorder symptoms and obesity can co-occur. Taş Torun and colleagues [29] found that disordered eating behaviors were more common in adolescents seeking treatment for obesity than in the control group of normal-weight adolescents. In addition, Tronieri and colleagues explored gender differences in obesity and obesity-related mental health problems, highlighting a higher prevalence of eating disorders in women with obesity than in men [30].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emotional and Behavioral Impairment and Comorbid Eating Disorder Symptoms in Adolescents with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study

Guerrini Usubini,

Bottacchi,

Bondesan

et al. 2024

JCM

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Background: The current study aims to assess the psychological conditions of Italian adolescents with obesity seeking an in-hospital multidisciplinary body weight reduction program, by exploring their psychological adjustment, emotional states, and co-occurring eating disorder symptoms. Methods: The study involved ninety-two consecutive Italian adolescents with obesity (31 males, 61 females), with a mean age ± SD: 16.4 ± 1.1 years and body mass index (BMI): 38.3 ± 6.04 kg/m2). The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) were used for the evaluations. Differences between genders, degrees of obesity (Group 1 = BMI SDS 2–2.99 and Group 2: BMI SDS > 3), and those with or without eating disorder symptoms (Group 1: EAT-26 ≤ 20 and Group 2: EAT-26 > 20) were explored. Results: The results showed that females reported higher scores on the Emotional Symptoms, Prosocial Behaviors, Total Difficulties, and Total Impact subscales of the SDQ, the BDI, both subscales of the STAI, and the Bulimia subscales of the EAT-26 than males, independently from the degrees of obesity. Participants with eating disorder symptoms (Group 2: EAT-26 > 20) showed higher scores on the Emotional Symptoms and Total Difficulties subscales of the SDQ, the BDI, and both subscales of the STAI than those of Group 1 (EAT-26 ≤ 20). Conclusions: The study explores the psychological conditions of adolescents with obesity. The results can inform appropriate treatment approaches for the management of obesity in developmental age groups, which not only take into account the medical and physical aspects of obesity, but also the behavioral, emotional, and social difficulties expressed by adolescents, in addition to specific eating disorder symptoms.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emotional and Behavioral Impairment and Comorbid Eating Disorder Symptoms in Adolescents with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study

Guerrini Usubini,

Bottacchi,

Bondesan

et al. 2024

JCM

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“…Activation of these areas in the brain, may directly impact eating behaviours, triggering cravings and initiating a cycle of seeking out specific foods for their pleasurable effects (55) . For example, a cross-sectional study on adolescents living with obesity reported that nearly half (47•9 %) met a food addiction diagnosis (62) . Food addiction has been linked to impairment of the brain reward circuits (63) and research into the field of obesity and food addiction in adolescents suggests that such occurrences increase the likelihood of adolescents reporting significant increased anxiety of gaining weight, dieting and thin body preoccupation (62) .…”

Section: The Impact Of Obesity On Psychological Psychosocial Health A...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, a cross-sectional study on adolescents living with obesity reported that nearly half (47•9 %) met a food addiction diagnosis (62) . Food addiction has been linked to impairment of the brain reward circuits (63) and research into the field of obesity and food addiction in adolescents suggests that such occurrences increase the likelihood of adolescents reporting significant increased anxiety of gaining weight, dieting and thin body preoccupation (62) . Biological factors can change taste preferences and directly impact eating behaviour, and early experiences with food can also shape an individual's food choice preferences (64) .…”

Section: The Impact Of Obesity On Psychological Psychosocial Health A...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Reframing interventions for optimal child nutrition and childhood obesity: the importance of considering psychological factors

Newson,

Abayomi

2024

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

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This review aims to emphasise the impact of poor nutrition on children’s health and psychological wellbeing, urging those involved in childhood obesity or nutrition services to broaden their intervention approach. Poor nutrition and childhood obesity affect physical and psychological health. The stress of living with obesity further impacts quality of life, wellbeing and self-esteem. Children living with obesity may experience adverse childhood events and stress, and young people are able to recall the impact of psychosocial issues such as experiencing stigma and discrimination. Food is often a coping mechanism for managing negative emotions, perpetuating cycles of emotional coping and unhealthy eating behaviours. UK guidelines recommend family-based, multi-component weight management interventions for children living with obesity. Interventions mainly target health behaviours and utilise behaviour change techniques attempting to directly improve diet and physical activity as behavioural outcomes. Whilst these interventions may show some improvements in psychological wellbeing, there is limited consideration or understanding of the underlying mechanisms of action which indirectly influence engagement and the sustainability of the behaviour change. Lack of attention and inclusion of psychosocial variables in intervention implementation may help explain the variable effectiveness reported across childhood obesity interventions. In conclusion, enhancing the effectiveness of childhood obesity interventions requires a broader approach that fully incorporates psychosocial factors. Those responsible for commissioning, designing and implementing these interventions should adopt a holistic approach that addresses psychological and emotional needs while incorporating underlying mechanisms of action. This shift in focus could result in more sustainable and comprehensive treatment for childhood obesity.

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“…When selecting food, women are mainly guided by dietary considerations and psychological and cultural factors related to body perception, whereas men tend to behave in a somewhat less rational and critical manner, choosing food on the basis of personal taste or acquired habits. The function attributed to food and the act of eating is also gendered: women are more often subject to craving, the intense desire for a particular food with a preference for sweet foods, also as an anti-stress function, but tend to experience hunger attacks with feelings of guilt; for men, on the other hand, the occasional binge is often associated with a positive mood ( Hallam et al, 2016 ; Opwis et al, 2017 ; Taş Torun et al, 2021 ). In the light of this evidence, in the present study we analysed the differences in self-regulation strategies between male and female young people.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychometric properties and measurement invariance across gender of the Italian version of the tempest self-regulation questionnaire for eating adapted for young adults

et al. 2022

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The prevalence of overweight and obesity in young adults has increased dramatically in recent decades. The unhealthy eating habits that develop at this time can often lead to negative health consequences in the future. It is therefore important to learn about self-regulation and self-control strategies and help young adults to have healthy eating behaviours. This study aims to present an Italian version of the Tempest Self-Regulation Questionnaire for Eating (TESQ-E) adapted for young adults. The instrument assesses self-regulation and self-control strategies to counteract the desire and temptation to eat unhealthy food and to choose healthy foods. A total of 645 students (271 males and 374 females with an average age of 24.82 and SD = 4.34) took part in the study. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis supported the six first-order factors model concerning specific self-regulation strategies and a higher-order structure of the TESQ-E [χ2 (152) = 336.480, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.95; RMSEA = 0.04; SRMR = 0.04]: three correlated second-order factors (addressing the temptation directly, addressing the psychological meaning of temptation, and addressing the goal directly) and one-third-order factor (self-regulatory competence). The results also confirmed the strong measurement invariance of the TESQ-E across gender. To have reliable comparisons across males and females, the latent mean differences tests were performed on the six specific self-regulation strategies. The analysis showed that females appear to prefer strategies that directly address the goal by expressing explicit intentions or plans to eat in a healthy way. Convergence validity was tested through correlations with Eating-Self-Efficacy Brief Scale (ESEBS), Emotional Eating Scale (EES), Scale of Attitudes towards Healthy Eating (SAHE), and Body Mass Index (BMI). In conclusion, the TESQ-E appears to be a psychometrically sound questionnaire that can be effectively used with young adults to measure self-regulation strategies in eating in order to plan personalised interventions for the prevention and control of the metabolic syndrome, and to reduce a wide range of diet-related diseases.

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A cross-sectional study on the correlates of food addiction symptoms in adolescents seeking treatment for obesity: eating attitudes and gender differences

Cited by 6 publications

References 30 publications

Emotional and Behavioral Impairment and Comorbid Eating Disorder Symptoms in Adolescents with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study

Emotional and Behavioral Impairment and Comorbid Eating Disorder Symptoms in Adolescents with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study

Reframing interventions for optimal child nutrition and childhood obesity: the importance of considering psychological factors

Psychometric properties and measurement invariance across gender of the Italian version of the tempest self-regulation questionnaire for eating adapted for young adults

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