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Risk and Maintenance of Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Children's Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2020) | Viewed by 36804

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Tyler Mason

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Guest Editor

Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, California, LA 90028, USA
Interests: eating disorders; obesity; ecological momentary assessment; diet; physical activity; mechanisms

Dr. Kathryn Smith

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Guest Editor

Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California, California, LA 90028, USA
Interests: eating disorders; obesity; emotion regulation; ambulatory assessment

Dr. Jason Lavender

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Guest Editor

1. Metis Foundation, San Antonio, TX 78205, USA
2. Military Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (MiCOR) Program, Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
Interests: eating and weight disorders; body image and disordered eating in boys and men; emotion regulation; stress

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Obesity and eating disorders are growing health concerns among adolescents, and particularly in the absence of effective interventions, these conditions may persist into adulthood. Adolescence is therefore a critical developmental period for the application of early prevention and intervention for obesity and eating disorders. Notably, adolescence is marked by expanded autonomy, which includes decision-making about eating behaviors and dietary intake as well as time spent engaging in physical activity and sedentary behaviors. Further, adolescence is a period characterized by transitions such as puberty, the emergence of romantic relationships and sexual activity, school transitions, and increased salience of peer relationships. As such, there are an array of factors across multiple levels (e.g., individual, peer, family, and school) that may impact the development of eating disorders, obesity, and associated behaviors among adolescents.

The goal of this Special Issue on “Risk and Maintenance of Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents” is to publish the latest research on etiology, maintenance, prevention, and intervention for obesity and eating disorders in adolescents. We are particularly interested in research that crosses multiple socio-ecological levels (e.g., individual, peer, family, and school). Empirical research studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and innovative theory papers are welcomed. The keywords listed below provide areas of interest.

Dr. Tyler Mason
Dr. Kathryn Smith
Dr. Jason Lavender
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Obesity
Eating disorders
Disordered eating
Diet
Physical activity
Sedentary behavior
Binge eating
Body image
Eating behaviors
Energy-balance behaviors

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 694 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interactions among Reward Sensitivity and Fast-Food Access on Healthy Eating Index Scores in Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Shirlene D. Wang, Michele Nicolo, Li Yi, Genevieve F. Dunton and Tyler B. Mason

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 5744; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115744 - 27 May 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2522

Abstract

Food cues in the environment may contribute to obesity as the consumption of unhealthy foods may reinforce reward pathways in the brain. To understand how person-level differences in reward sensitivity may be associated with diet quality, this study aimed to examine the moderating role of the availability of fast food in the environment on the relationship between reward sensitivity and diet quality in adolescents. Participants (n = 152; 55% female; Mage: 12.5 ± 0.93 y) completed the drive and reward subscales of the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS)/Behavioral Activation System (BAS) Scale to assess reward sensitivity and completed two 24 h dietary recalls from which Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores (total score and subscales of adequacy and moderation) were calculated. Fast-food environment (FFE) was operationalized as the total number of fast-food outlets within 1 km around participants’ home address. Linear regressions were used to examine the main effects and interactions between reward sensitivity and FFE in relation to HEI score. Interactions were found between FFE and BAS drive (p = 0.02) and BAS reward (p < 0.01) on HEI adequacy. There were no interaction effects on HEI moderation or HEI total scores. For individuals who had lower access exposure to fast-food outlets (−1 SD), there was a stronger positive association between higher BAS drive (t = 2.85, p = 0.01, 95% CI (0.35, 1.94)) and HEI adequacy scores and between higher BAS reward (t = 3.27, p > 0.01, 95% CI (0.72, 2.93)) and HEI adequacy scores. By examining reward sensitivity to potential food cues in residential neighborhood food environments, it is possible to understand which adolescents are more sensitive to environmental food cues and implement interventions to buffer these influences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk and Maintenance of Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents)

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11 pages, 308 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationship of Sodium Intake with Overweight/Obesity among Chinese Children and Adolescents: Data from the CNNHS 2010–2012

by Kehong Fang, Yuna He, Yuehui Fang and Yiyao Lian

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4551; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094551 - 25 Apr 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1996

Abstract

This study aims to examine association between sodium intake and overweight/obesity among Chinese children and adolescents. Data were obtained from China National Nutrition and Health Surveillance (CNNHS), 2010–2012. All participants recruited in this study aged 7–18 years old and provided complete dietary data on three-day consecutive 24 h dietary recalls combining with the household weighing method. Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to define overweight/obesity, and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was used to define abdominal obesity. Sodium intake showed association with risk of overweight/obesity assessed by BMI in the highest tertile group with OR of 1.48 (95%CI 1.13–1.94) and 1.89 (95%CI 1.33–2.67) for WHtR. After adjusted for gender, age, household income, area, energy, carbohydrates, protein, fat, saturated fatty acids, and fiber intake, the relationship between sodium intake and overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity are not changed. The same results were founded in subjects aged 10–18 years old. Our results reveal a positive association between sodium intake and overweight/obesity in Chinese children and adolescents, independent of energy consumption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk and Maintenance of Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents)

12 pages, 349 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Depression, Anxiety and Eating Disorder-Related Impairment: Moderators in Female Adolescents and Young Adults

by Johanna Sander, Markus Moessner and Stephanie Bauer

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(5), 2779; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052779 - 09 Mar 2021

Cited by 55 | Viewed by 11675

Abstract

Adolescents and young adults, particularly females, are highly vulnerable to the development of anxiety disorders, depression, and eating disorders. Comorbid anxiety disorder or depression in eating disorders are associated with greater symptom severity, poorer prognosis, and burden of illness. Nonetheless, studies on what affects the relationship between anxiety, depression, and eating disorders in female at-risk samples are scarce. Using hierarchical linear modeling, the present study examined potential moderators to explain between-person differences in the association between anxiety, depression, and eating disorder-related impairment within 12- to 25-year-old females (N = 320). High impairment in anxiety/depression was associated with more severe eating disorder symptoms. Older age as well as greater impairment in mood dysregulation, self-esteem, and perfectionism were linked to more severe eating disorder symptomatology. Whereas mood dysregulation, self-esteem, and perfectionism had no statistically significant moderating effects, younger age appeared to augment the association of anxiety/depression and eating disorder symptomatology. Preventive care in particular needs to consider age-related effects as eating disorder symptoms are associated more strongly with symptoms of anxiety and depression in early adolescence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk and Maintenance of Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents)

10 pages, 344 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Facets of Impulsivity in Relation to Diet Quality and Physical Activity in Adolescence

by Kathryn E. Smith, Jason M. Lavender, Adam M. Leventhal and Tyler B. Mason

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(2), 613; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020613 - 12 Jan 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2470

Abstract

Although the construct of impulsivity has generally been found to be associated with obesity and health behaviors in adults, research among adolescents is more limited and studies have yet to elucidate which facets of impulsivity may be most salient with regard to different eating and physical activity behaviors. Therefore, the present cross-sectional study assessed facets of impulsivity, measured by the UPPS-P questionnaire, in relation to health behaviors among adolescents. A sample of 2797 high school students from Los Angeles, California completed self-report measures during the ninth grade. The UPPS-P subscales (i.e., (lack of) premeditation, sensation seeking, (lack of) perseverance, negative urgency, positive urgency) were examined as predictors of unhealthy diet quality (i.e., frequency of consumption of high-fat foods and sweet food and drinks, measured by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Quick Food Scan) and frequency of vigorous physical activity (measured by the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System). Greater sensation seeking, positive urgency, and negative urgency was associated with greater unhealthy diet quality (ps < 0.001). Greater negative urgency and lack of perseverance was associated with less frequent vigorous physical activity, whereas greater sensation seeking, lack of premeditation, and positive urgency was associated with more frequent vigorous physical activity (ps < 0.05). While negative urgency (i.e., impulsivity in the context of negative emotions) was consistently associated with poor health behaviors, other facets of impulsivity may potentiate vigorous physical activity in youth. Together these findings underscore the importance of considering the multidimensional nature of impulsivity in relation to adolescents’ health behaviors and highlight areas for future longitudinal research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk and Maintenance of Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents)

9 pages, 481 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Longitudinal Prospective Association between Hedonic Hunger and Unhealthy Food and Drink Intake in Adolescents

by Tyler B. Mason, Kathryn E. Smith, Jason M. Lavender and Adam M. Leventhal

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(24), 9375; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249375 - 15 Dec 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2206

Abstract

Hedonic hunger (i.e., extreme responsiveness to food) has been associated with obesity and poor diet, but findings in the existing literature have primarily been cross-sectional. The current study examined hedonic hunger as a prospective predictor of the longitudinal trajectory of unhealthy food and drink intake across adolescence. Ninth grade students from Los Angeles area high schools (analyzed sample N = 3268) completed paper-and-pencil surveys across four annual waves; hedonic hunger was assessed at Wave 1, and unhealthy food and drink intake was assessed at Waves 1–4. Multilevel models showed a significant main effect of hedonic hunger and interactions between hedonic hunger and the linear and quadratic components of time. The association between hedonic hunger and unhealthy food and drink intake was strongest at Wave 1 and weakened over time, yet those with higher hedonic hunger reported greater unhealthy food and drink intake across the four years. Efforts to prevent and intervene upon hedonic hunger and its association with unhealthy food and drink intake during childhood and adolescence are warranted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk and Maintenance of Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents)

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9 pages, 335 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Eating-Disordered Behavior in Adolescents: Associations with Body Image, Body Composition and Physical Activity

by Eliška Štefanová, Peter Bakalár and Tibor Baška

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(18), 6665; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186665 - 13 Sep 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4129

Abstract

Eating disorders (EDs) represent a disparate group of mental health problems that significantly impair physical health or psychosocial functioning. The aim of this study was to present some evidence about the prevalence of eating-disordered behavior (EDB) in adolescents, and explore its associations with body image (BI), body composition (BC) and physical activity (PA) in this age group. Data from 780 adolescents participating in a health behavior in school-aged children (HBSC) study conducted in Slovakia in 2018 were used (mean age 13.5 ± 1.3; 56% boys). Differences in mean values of numerical indicators were evaluated using the independent samples t-test. Differences between nominal variables were assessed by the chi-square test. Pearson correlation was used to describe the associations between all the selected variables. EDB was positively screened in 26.7% (208/780) of adolescents, with a higher prevalence in girls (128/344, 37.2%) than in boys (80/436, 18.3%). Significantly higher means of BI, body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), body fat mass (BFM), body fat percentage (BFP), body fat mass index (BFMI), fat free mass index (FFMI), and SCOFF questionnaire score (SCOFF QS) were found in those positively screened for EDB. Pearson correlation analysis revealed positive associations between EDB and BI, BW, BMI, BFM, BFP and BFMI. The prevalence of EDB is high in Slovak adolescents. Positive associations between EDB, BI, BMI and fat-related body composition parameters support the idea of a more integrated approach in EDs and obesity prevention and treatment. At the same time, gender differences suggest the need for considering gender-specific strategies aimed at girls and boys separately. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk and Maintenance of Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents)

11 pages, 2659 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Homeostatic Theory of Obesity: An Empirical Verification of the Circle of Discontent with an Assessment of Its Relationship to Restrained and Uncontrolled Eating among Children and Adolescents

by Kamila Czepczor-Bernat, Anna Brytek-Matera and Paweł Matusik

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(17), 6028; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176028 - 19 Aug 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3982

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to provide an empirical verification of the Circle of Discontent with an assessment of its relationship to restrained and uncontrolled eating among children and adolescents. This study examined whether our results confirm a new hypothesized model. The total sample comprised 282 children and adolescents (148 girls and 134 boys; 141 participants with normal body weight and 141 with obesity). The mean age was 12.23 years (SD = 2.80), and the average BMI (body mass index) was 23.29 kg/m² (SD = 6.27). The following were used: Positive and Negative Affect Scale for Children, Children’s Body Image Scale, Figure Rating Scale, Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire and Eating Disorders in Youth. The obtained values of the model fit indices proved the goodness of fit. Our findings show that obesity accompanies body dissatisfaction and uncontrolled and restrictive eating. Moreover, the higher the level of restrictive eating, the lower the level of uncontrolled eating. The relationships between body dissatisfaction, negative affect and restrictive eating, as well as that between uncontrolled eating and high-energy consumption, are significant and positive. Other relationships are non-significant. The above-mentioned relationships established in the Circle of Discontent, as well as relationships of restrained and uncontrolled eating with variables described in the circle, were confirmed. Based on our results, preventive strategies and psychological interventions can be created and may include changes in body image, eating behaviors and emotional functioning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk and Maintenance of Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents)

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14 pages, 425 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Obesity in Young Adulthood: The Role of Physical Activity Level, Musculoskeletal Pain, and Psychological Distress in Adolescence (The HUNT-Study)

by Maren Hjelle Guddal, Synne Øien Stensland, Milada Cvancarova Småstuen, Marianne Bakke Johnsen, Ingrid Heuch, John-Anker Zwart and Kjersti Storheim

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(12), 4603; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124603 - 26 Jun 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3212

Abstract

The global obesity epidemic raises long-term health concerns which underline the importance of preventive efforts. We aimed to investigate individual and combined effects of common health problems in adolescence on the probability of obesity in young adulthood. This prospective population-based study included data from participants in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study in Norway (Young-HUNT1 (1995–1997), age 13–19, baseline) who participated in HUNT3 as young adults 11 years later (age 23–31). Exposure variables at baseline included self-reported physical activity, musculoskeletal pain, and psychological distress. We examined associations between exposure variables and the main outcome of obesity in young adulthood (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) using univariate and multiple logistic regression, stratified by sex. Probabilities of obesity for given combinations of the exposure variables were visualized in risk matrixes. The study sample consisted of 1859 participants (43.6% boys). Higher probabilities of obesity in young adulthood were found across combinations of lower physical activity levels and presence of musculoskeletal pain in adolescence. Additional adverse effects of psychological distress were low. Proactive intervention strategies to promote physical activity and facilitate sports participation for all adolescents, whilst addressing musculoskeletal pain and its potential individual causes, could prove helpful to prevent development of obesity in young adulthood. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk and Maintenance of Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents)

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Review

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10 pages, 566 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Emotional Eating and Weight Status in Adolescents: A Systematic Review

by Christine A. Limbers and Emma Summers

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(3), 991; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18030991 - 23 Jan 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3765

Abstract

Background: Despite evidence that emotional eating is associated with weight gain in adults, less is known about this association in adolescents. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a systematic review to assess the association between emotional eating and weight status in adolescents. This study also sought to describe existing measures of emotional eating in adolescents and explore weight-loss interventions that assessed emotional eating in relation to weight status in this population. Methods: Two independent reviewers searched the database PubMed for published or in press peer-reviewed studies that assessed the association between emotional eating and weight status in adolescents aged 12 to 19 years. Studies were excluded from this review if they were not written in the English language, did not include a measure of emotional eating, or were a dissertation study. Results: A total of 13 studies met full inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. Of the six longitudinal studies in the review, only one found a prospective association between emotional eating and weight status. The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire was the most widely used measure of emotional eating in the systematic review (n = 6; 46.2%). The one intervention study included in this review found that baseline emotional eating was not associated with weight outcomes 2 years following gastric bypass surgery in obese Swedish adolescents (13–18 years). Conclusions: While there were some inconsistent findings across the studies included in this review, taken as a whole, the results largely do not support an association between emotional eating and elevated weight status or reduced weight loss in adolescents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk and Maintenance of Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents)

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