Typology of eating episodes in children and adolescents with overweight/obesity. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goldschmidt, Andrea B.; Mason, Tyler B.; Smith, Kathryn E.; Egbert, Amy H.; Engel, Scott G.; Haedt-Matt, Alissa
• Is Part Of: Eating behaviors. Volume 44(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: LPA latent profile analysis -- LOC loss of control -- EAH eating in the absence of hunger -- BED binge eating disorder -- EMA ecological momentary assessment -- PANAS Positive and Negative Affect Scale -- EDE Eating Disorder Examination -- SAS-SR Social Adjustment Scale-Self-Report -- LL log likelihood -- AIC Akaike information criterion -- BIC Bayesian information criterion -- aBIC adjusted Bayesian information criterion; Ecological momentary assessment -- Loss of control -- Overeating -- Hedonic -- Eating in the absence of hunger -- Obesity; Eating disorders -- Periodicals; Compulsive eating -- Periodicals; Obesity -- Periodicals; 616.8526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2022.101596
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-0153

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Research suggests that youth with overweight/obesity can be subtyped according to disinhibited eating tendencies. No research has attempted to subtype classes of eating episodes along sensational, psychological, and hedonic dimensions. Methods: Youth ( N = 39; 55% female) aged 8–14 y with overweight/obesity completed a 2-week ecological momentary assessment protocol in which they reported on all eating episodes and their sensational, environmental, affective, and interpersonal contexts. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to classify episodes based on loss of control (LOC) while eating, self-reported overeating, food palatability, hunger, and cravings. Classes were compared on affective, interpersonal, appearance-related, and environmental correlates using Wald chi-square tests. Results: LPA identified three classes of eating episodes involving high levels of LOC/self-reported overeating ("binge-like" class), low levels of hunger ("eating-in-the-absence-of-hunger" class), and high hunger and cravings ("appetitive eating" class). Binge-like eating was associated with the highest levels of body dissatisfaction, interpersonal distress, and positive affect, and was most likely to occur in the after-school hours. Conclusions: Binge-like eating tends to occur in a psychological context relative to other types of eating episodes in youth with overweight/obesity. Future research should explore whether certain classes of eating episodes are associated with distinct weight trajectories over time. Highlights: We used latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify classes of eating episodes. Classes were "binge" eating, eating-in-the-absence-of-hunger, and appetitive eating. Classes differed on environmental and psychological correlates.