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Compulsive Eating, Anorexia Nervosa and Obesity: From Prevention to Treatment

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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 August 2024) | Viewed by 6757

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Paola Fadda

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Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Interests: psychiatric disorders; eating disorders; addiction; dopaminergic system; endocannabinoid system; behavioral neuroscience; eating behavior; animal models of eating disorders
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Simona Dedoni

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Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Section of Neurosciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Interests: cell signaling; apoptosis; neurotrophins; cytokines; neuroscience
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Dr. Maria Scherma

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Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Interests: eating disorders; psychiatric disorders; addiction; endocannabinoid system; behavioral neuroscience; animal models of eating disorders
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Roberto Collu

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Co-Guest Editor

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Biophysics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
Interests: eating disorders; animal models of eating disorders; behavioral neuroscience; psychiatric disorders; neurodegenerative disorders

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, a growing number of people are dealing with eating disorders in their various, diversified, and complex forms, including anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorders, and overweight and obesity. Moreover, eating disorders and obesity have assumed the entity of a real social and economic emergency due to medical complications and associated psychiatric comorbidities. Of note, eating disorders are nowadays among the deadliest mental illnesses worldwide.

Research in this field has increased exponentially and yielded to a detailed understanding of biological and psychological factors associated with eating disorders and obesity. However, the complex etiology of the maladaptive eating habits that underlie the onset and progression of these disorders remains elusive, hindering the identification of effective therapeutic approaches.

This Special Issue entitled “Compulsive Eating, Anorexia Nervosa and Obesity: From Prevention to Treatment” welcomes original research papers and up-to-date reviews (including systematic reviews and meta-analyses), ranging from preclinical to human studies, designed to explore potential neurobiological mechanisms as well as preventive interventions and behavioral or pharmacological treatments. We invite authors to submit their works and contribute to this research topic of clinically relevant considerable value.

Prof. Dr. Paola Fadda
Dr. Simona Dedoni
Dr. Maria Scherma
Dr. Roberto Collu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2900 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

anorexia nervosa
binge eating disorder
bulimia nervosa
obesity
compulsive eating

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 276 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Emotional Eating in Children from the Perspective of Parents: Psychometric Properties of the Parent Version of the Emotional Eating Scale Adapted for Children and Adolescents

by Emma Summers and Christine A. Limbers

Nutrients 2024, 16(17), 3030; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16173030 - 8 Sep 2024

Viewed by 228

Abstract

Background: Emotional eating is associated with adverse health outcomes in children, including elevated weight status. Currently, there is not a well-validated parent-report measure of emotional eating for young children. This study assessed the reliability and validity of the 10-item parent version of the Emotional Eating Scale Adapted for Children and Adolescents (EES-C) Short-Form. Methods: The participants were 207 parents and 144 children from the southern United States. They completed the parent- and child-report EES-C Short-Form and responded to measures related to child eating behaviors, mood, and gratitude. Results: The parent-report EES-C Short-Form demonstrated good internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.94). Test–retest reliability was also supported, as evidenced by a medium correlation (ICC = 0.56, p < 0.001) between parent-rated emotional eating across two time points. Additionally, the measure demonstrated a significant correlation with a scale of emotional overeating (r = 0.25, p < 0.001)—a theoretically related construct. Supporting discriminant validity, the measure was not significantly related to a measure of parent-reported gratitude (r = 0.07, p = 0.30). A unidimensional model provided good fit for the data (CFI = 0.997, SRMR = 0.046). Conclusions: The results from the current study provide preliminary evidence supporting the reliability and validity of the parent version of the EES-C Short-Form. For the purpose of screening children in school or primary care settings, the EES-C Short-Form may be practical and helpful in identifying children who may be at risk of developing adverse health outcomes or more-severe eating disorder pathology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Compulsive Eating, Anorexia Nervosa and Obesity: From Prevention to Treatment)

16 pages, 278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adapting an Online Guided Self-Help CBT Programme Targeting Disordered Eating for Students in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Qualitative Study

by Alisa Mitlash, Charlene Rapsey, Gareth J. Treharne and Damian Scarf

Nutrients 2024, 16(17), 2905; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16172905 - 30 Aug 2024

Viewed by 468

Abstract

Disordered eating is a significant issue in university student populations. Currently, access to interventions is limited. Online interventions present an innovative way to increase accessibility to treatment for those in need. The current study explored how an online intervention for disordered eating (everyBody) could be modified to suit the needs of university students in Aotearoa New Zealand. Aotearoa New Zealand is a unique cultural context, with an indigenous population that has a high incidence rate of disordered eating, highlighting the need to adapt everyBody to the local context. Individual interviews were conducted with nine students currently at university in Aotearoa New Zealand, aged between 18 and 33 years old (five females, four males). Three first-order themes were identified using template analysis. The themes indicate that participants perceived the programme as acceptable and feasible for use with Aotearoa New Zealand’s university student population. Furthermore, the themes provide insight into potential adaptions to the programme to facilitate engagement and uptake. The suggested changes were largely consistent with previous research on E-therapy design (e.g., content length, therapeutic alliance), and also highlight changes specific to fit Aotearoa New Zealand’s cultural context. The findings have implications for universities and other funders deciding on services for students with disordered eating and eating disorders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Compulsive Eating, Anorexia Nervosa and Obesity: From Prevention to Treatment)

16 pages, 582 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Psychological Treatment Dropout Predictors Using Machine Learning Models on Italian Patients Living with Overweight and Obesity Ineligible for Bariatric Surgery

by Serena Marchitelli, Cristina Mazza, Eleonora Ricci, Valentina Faia, Silvia Biondi, Marco Colasanti, Alessandra Cardinale, Paolo Roma and Renata Tambelli

Nutrients 2024, 16(16), 2605; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16162605 - 8 Aug 2024

Viewed by 802

Abstract

According to the main international guidelines, patients with obesity and psychiatric/psychological disorders who cannot be addressed to surgery are recommended to follow a nutritional approach and a psychological treatment. A total of 94 patients (T0) completed a battery of self-report measures: Symptom Checklist-90—Revised (SCL-90-R), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11), Binge-Eating Scale (BES), Obesity-Related Well-Being Questionnaire-97 (ORWELL-97), and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). Then, twelve sessions of a brief psychodynamic psychotherapy were delivered, which was followed by the participants completing the follow-up evaluation (T1). Two groups of patients were identified: Group 1 (n = 65), who fully completed the assessment in both T0 and T1; and Group 2-dropout (n = 29), who fulfilled the assessment only at T0 and not at T1. Machine learning models were implemented to investigate which variables were most associated with treatment failure. The classification tree model identified patients who were dropping out of treatment with an accuracy of about 80% by considering two variables: the MMPI-2 Correction (K) scale and the SCL-90-R Phobic Anxiety (PHOB) scale. Given the limited number of studies on this topic, the present results highlight the importance of considering the patient’s level of adaptation and the social context in which they are integrated in treatment planning. Cautionary notes, implications, and future directions are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Compulsive Eating, Anorexia Nervosa and Obesity: From Prevention to Treatment)

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11 pages, 275 KiB

Open AccessArticle

No Evidence for Cross-Sectional or Longitudinal Associations between Cognitive Flexibility Performances and Nutritional Status in a Cohort of Inpatients with Anorexia Nervosa

by Lutzi Castaño, Melina Fatseas, Maylis Cuzacq, Lama Mattar, Nathalie Godart and Sylvie Berthoz

Nutrients 2024, 16(13), 1982; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16131982 - 21 Jun 2024

Viewed by 601

Abstract

Background: According to the Cognitive–Interpersonal model of anorexia nervosa (AN), the combined influence of cognitive and socio-emotional difficulties would constitute vulnerability and maintaining factors. Poor cognitive flexibility is one of the endophenotypic candidates (i.e., a trait marker) of the disorder, but few studies have examined its association with illness symptom variations, notably weight status. The study aimed to evaluate the relationships between cognitive flexibility performances and nutritional status indices (BMI; body composition) at different times of the disorder. Methods: Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between cognitive flexibility (TAP 2.1) and nutritional status indices, along with anxious and depressive (HAD) and eating disorder (EDE-Q) symptomatology were investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses in a cohort of AN inpatients evaluated at hospital admission (N = 167) and discharge (N = 94). Results: We found no or negligible associations between nutritional status and HAD or EDE-Q scores or cognitive flexibility performances, either cross-sectionally or longitudinally. Cognitive performances did not significantly differ between the AN subtypes. Conclusions: In agreement with the Cognitive–Interpersonal model of AN, cognitive flexibility is independent of nutritional status, as well as the AN subtype. It is also independent of the levels of anxious, depressive, or ED symptomatology. A new therapeutic approach targeting cognitive flexibility and intolerance to change could benefit severely emaciated people with AN, regardless of disease subtype and level of dysphoria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Compulsive Eating, Anorexia Nervosa and Obesity: From Prevention to Treatment)

15 pages, 1373 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Increased Depressive-like, Anxiety-like, and Perseverative-like Behavior in Binge Eating Model in Juvenile Rats

by Alma Delia Genis-Mendoza, Isela Esther Juárez-Rojop, Yudy Merady Escobar-Chan, Carlos Alfonso Tovilla-Zárate, María Lilia López-Narváez, Humberto Nicolini and Thelma Beatriz González-Castro

Nutrients 2024, 16(9), 1275; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16091275 - 25 Apr 2024

Viewed by 864

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate depressive-like, anxiety-like, and perseverative-like behaviors in a binge eating model. Juvenile Wistar rats, using the binge eating model, were compared to caloric restriction, induced stress, and control groups. Rats of the induced stress group presented binge-like behaviors in standard food intake in the second cycle of the experiment when compared to the caloric restriction group and the binge eating model group. Depressive-like behavior was observed in the binge eating model group with longer immobility time (p < 0.001) and less swim time (p < 0.001) in comparison to the control group. Anxiety-like behavior was observed by shorter duration of burying latency in the binge eating model group when compared to the induced stress group (p = 0.04) and a longer duration of burying time when compared to the control group (p = 0.02). We observed perseverative-like behavior by the binge model group, who made more entries to the new arm (p = 0.0004) and spent a longer time in the new arm when compared to the control group (p = 0.0001). Our results show differences in behaviors between the groups of rats studied. These results suggest that calorie restriction–refeeding, along with stress, may lead to depressive-like, anxiety-like, and perseverative-like behavioral changes in male Wistar rats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Compulsive Eating, Anorexia Nervosa and Obesity: From Prevention to Treatment)

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12 pages, 279 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cognitive Impulsivity in Anorexia Nervosa in Correlation with Eating and Obsessive Symptoms: A Comparison with Healthy Controls

by Francesco Bevione, Matteo Martini, Federica Toppino, Paola Longo, Giovanni Abbate-Daga, Annalisa Brustolin and Matteo Panero

Nutrients 2024, 16(8), 1156; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16081156 - 13 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1050

Abstract

Impulsivity in eating disorders (ED) has been historically focused on bingeing–purging symptoms, evidencing lower levels in restricting subtypes. In the recent literature, obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) has been described as characterized by high cognitive impulsivity. This specific impulsivity factor has been rarely studied in anorexia nervosa (AN). In this study, 53 inpatients with anorexia nervosa and 59 healthy controls completed the following questionnaires: the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), the Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory (OCI), the Eating Disorders Inventory—2 (EDI–2), the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). AN individuals showed significantly increased levels of cognitive instability but no difference in global score and other subscales of impulsivity compared to the healthy controls. Among AN individuals, cognitive instability emerged as being associated with the global score and obsession subscale of the OCI. It was also significantly associated with interoceptive awareness and impulse regulation. Cognitive instability was the main predictor of obsessive thoughts and behaviors in AN. Our study supports the hypothesis of AN as being characterized by high cognitive instability and adds the result that the cognitive domain of impulsivity may be associated with the presence of obsessive symptoms, specifically obsessive thoughts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Compulsive Eating, Anorexia Nervosa and Obesity: From Prevention to Treatment)

16 pages, 732 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chrono-Nutritional Patterns, Medical Comorbidities, and Psychological Status in Patients with Severe Obesity

by Silvia Bettini, Sami Schiff, Enrico Carraro, Chiara Callegari, Beatrice Gusella, Giulia Maria Pontesilli, Matteo D’Angelo, Valeria Baldan, Alessandra Zattarin, Giulia Romanelli, Paolo Angeli, Paolo Girardi, Paolo Spinella, Roberto Vettor and Luca Busetto

Nutrients 2023, 15(23), 5003; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15235003 - 3 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1939

Abstract

Chrono-nutrition studies dietary habits and their role in the onset of metabolic diseases. The aim of this study is to describe chrono-nutritional patterns based on the analysis of the eating habits of patients with severe obesity during the 24-h cycle and investigate a possible relationship between these profiles, the comorbidities, and the psychological status. From the overall evaluation of the chrono-nutritional profiles of 173 patients with severe obesity, four predominant eating patterns were obtained with a refined statistical model. A regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between chrono-nutritional patterns, medical comorbidities, and psychological status. Profile 1 was the most frequent (46.2%) and characterised by the regular presence of the three main meals. The distribution of the chrono-nutritional profiles did not vary with BMI. Chrono-nutritional profiles affected predominantly psychological variables, with lower performances among chrono-nutritional profiles 3 (to eat during all the 24-h, with nibbling and snacking also during the night) and 4 (like the fourth but without night-eating). This finding could be useful in the assessment and treatment of patients with obesity, allowing the identification of patients with a higher probability of suffering from a psychopathological condition simply by knowing the patients’ dietary profiles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Compulsive Eating, Anorexia Nervosa and Obesity: From Prevention to Treatment)

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