Affect and eating behavior in obese adults with and without elevated depression symptoms. Issue 3 (6th September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goldschmidt, Andrea B.; Crosby, Ross D.; Engel, Scott G.; Crow, Scott J.; Cao, Li; Peterson, Carol B.; Durkin, Nora
• Is Part Of: International journal of eating disorders. Volume 47:Issue 3(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 281
• Page End: 286
• Publication Date: 2013-09-06
• Subjects: Appetite disorders -- Periodicals; Ingestion disorders -- Periodicals; Eating disorders -- Periodicals; 616.8526
• DOI: 10.1002/eat.22188
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0276-3478

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="eat22188-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>Although there is a modest relation between obesity and depression, mechanisms that contribute to this co‐occurrence are unclear. This study examined mood and eating behavior among obese adults with and without elevated depression symptoms.</p> </sec> <sec id="eat22188-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Method</title> <p>Obese adults (<italic>N</italic> = 50) were subtyped according to a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) cutoff of 14, indicating "probable depression." Participants with (BDI ≥ 14; <italic>n</italic> = 15) and without (BDI < 14; <italic>n</italic> = 35) elevated depression symptoms were compared on affect‐ and eating‐related variables measured via questionnaire and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) using ANCOVA and mixed model regression.</p> </sec> <sec id="eat22188-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>After adjusting for group differences in body mass index (BMI; <italic>p</italic> = .03), participants with elevated depression symptoms reported greater emotional eating via self‐report questionnaire [<italic>F</italic>(1, 50) = 4.3; <italic>p</italic> = .04], as well as more frequent binge eating (Wald <italic>χ</italic><sup>2</sup> = 13.8; <italic>p</italic> < .001) and higher daily negative affect (Wald <italic>χ</italic><sup>2</sup> = 7.7; <italic>p</italic> = .005) on EMA recordings. Emotional eating mediated the relationship between depression status and BMI (indirect effect estimate = 3.79; 95% CI = 1.02–7.46).</p> </sec> <sec id="eat22188-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Discussion</title> <p>Emotional eating and binge eating were more commonly reported by obese adults with elevated depression symptoms compared to those without and may occur against a general backdrop of overall low mood. Intervention and prevention programs for obesity and/or depression should address disordered eating to prevent or minimize adverse health consequences. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:281–286)</p> </sec> </abstract>