Assessment of executive functions in obese individuals with binge eating disorder

Abstract

Objective:The aim of this study was to assess executive functions of obese individuals with binge eating disorder. Method: Thirty-eight obese individuals with binge eating disorder were compared to thirty-eight obese controls without binge eating disorder in terms of their executive functions. All individuals were assessed using the following instruments: Digit Span, Trail Making Tests A and B, Stroop Test and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. In addition, four subtests from the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome Battery were also used, namely the Zoo Map Test, the Modified Six Elements Test, the Action Program Test and the Rule Shift Cards Test. Results: When compared to obese controls, obese individuals with binge eating disorder presented significant impairment in the following tests: Digit Span backward, Zoo Map Test, Modified Six Elements Test, and Action Program Test. Subjects with binge eating disorder also showed significant more set shifting and perseverative errors in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. In other measures such as the Digit Span Forward, the Trail Making Test, the Stroop Test and the Rule Shift Cards Test, obese subjects with binge eating disorder did not differ significantly from obese subjects without binge eating disorder. Conclusion: These results suggest that, in the present sample, obese individuals with binge eating disorder presented executive deficits, especially impairments relating to problem-solving, cognitive flexibility and working memory.

Executive functioning and behavioral impulsivity of young women who binge eat

“…The mean scores of both the binge-eating and control groups were within the normal range. These findings are inconsistent with some research 19,20 and consistent with other investigations of executive functioning of clinical samples with BED. 22,23 A number of factors, most notably significant variations in sample characteristics, render it difficult to compare the results of this study to that of previous investigations and might also account for discrepant findings across studies.…”

“…Women with BED demonstrated less cognitive flexibility and greater impairments in decision-making skills compared to those in the control group. A similar association between binge eating and executive dysfunction was identified by Duchesne et al 20 In their investigation, 30 obese participants with BED and 38 obese participants without BED were matched with respect to their estimated intelligence, age, and education. Participants in both groups completed a number of neuropsychological tests assessing a range of executive functions, including the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST).…”

“…19,20,22,23 Although some research suggests that impairments in executive functioning play a role in binge eating, 19,20 outcomes are mixed 22,23 and are only generalizable to clinical samples meeting BED diagnostic criteria. Yet, many individuals experience subclinical forms of BED, 4,6 and both subthreshold and threshold binge eating are associated with significant impairments in psychological functioning.…”

“…9 Thus, utilizing a sample with subthreshold symptoms enhances the generalizability of outcomes. In addition, previous research 19,20,22,23 investigating executive functioning among individuals who binge eats has not controlled for the influence of comorbid psychopathology or BMI. Controlling for these variables in this study provides a clearer picture of the association between executive functioning and binge eating.…”

“…Planning and problem-solving abilities were also lower in the binge eating group. 20 In contrast, outcomes from two recent studies did not provide evidence for a link between executive dysfunction and binge eating. 22, 23 Davis et al 22 used several neuropsychological measures to examine the decision-making abilities of three groups of women: (1) obese with BED, (2) obese without BED, and (3) normal weight.…”