Executive Function and Dysregulated Eating Behaviors in Pediatric Obesity. (8th June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gowey, Marissa A; Lim, Crystal S; Dutton, Gareth R; Silverstein, Janet H; Dumont-Driscoll, Marilyn C; Janicke, David M
• Is Part Of: Journal of pediatric psychology. Volume 43:Number 8(2018)
• Page Start: 834
• Page End: 845
• Publication Date: 2017-06-08
• Subjects: adolescents -- children -- eating and feeding disorders -- health behavior -- obesity -- neuropsychology -- parents; Clinical child psychology -- Periodicals; 618.9289005
• DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsx091
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0146-8693

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To examine the association between caregiver proxy report of executive function (EF) and dysregulated eating behavior in children with obesity. Methods: Participants were 195 youth with obesity aged 8–17 years, and their legal guardians. Youth height, weight, demographics, depressive symptoms, eating behaviors, and EF were assessed cross-sectionally during a medical visit. Analyses of covariance, adjusted for child age, gender, race/ethnicity, standardized BMI, depressive symptoms, and family income were used to examine differences in youth EF across caregiver and youth self-report of eating behaviors. Results: Youth EF differed significantly by caregiver report of eating behavior but not youth self-report. Post hoc analyses showed that youth with overeating or binge eating had poorer EF than youth without these eating behaviors. Conclusions: Executive dysfunction, as reported by caregivers, in youth with obesity may be associated with dysregulated eating behaviors predictive of poor long-term psychosocial and weight outcomes. Further consideration of EF-specific targets for assessment and intervention in youth with obesity may be warranted.