Cognitive Fusion and Emotional Eating among Adolescents with Obesity

A Preliminary Cross-Sectional Study

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15480682
AutoresAnna Guerrini Usubini (0000-0002-1862-401X, University of Milan), Michela Bottacchi (IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano), Diana Caroli (0000-0002-0727-7470, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano), Gianluca Castelnuovo (0000-0003-2633-9822, University of Milan, autor de correspondencia), Alessandro Sartório (0000-0002-9620-4133, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano)
Año2022
Volumen19
Número22
Páginas14855-14855
Fecha de publicación2022-11-11
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
EditorialMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph192214855
PMID36429574
OpenAlexW4309006996
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas21

Cognitive fusion and avoidance are supposed to exert a key role in the development and maintenance of disordered eating behaviors related to obesity, such as emotional eating. A large portion of the research has focused on adult populations, while few data are available on adolescents so far. The current cross-sectional study is intended to explore the association between cognitive fusion, avoidance, and emotional eating in a sample of fifty-six Italian adolescents (13-17 years) with obesity (body mass index > 97th centile). For this purpose, participants attending a 3-week body weight reduction program were assessed using demographical, physical, and clinical data. A multivariate linear regression model was performed in order to preliminarily investigate the predictive role of cognitive fusion on emotional eating, controlling for possible confounding factors. Results showed a significant association between cognitive fusion and emotional eating. Regression revealed that cognitive fusion was a significant contributor for explaining emotional eating (controlling for sex) [R 2 = 0.551; Adjusted R 2 = 0.534; F(2,53) = 32.5; p < 0.001]. Even if preliminary, our findings suggest a predictive role of cognitive fusion on emotional eating, and also suggest that cognitive fusion can be considered a key component in understanding and addressing of disordered eating behaviors related to obesity. Future replications are required to expand the sample and collect longitudinal data. Intervention programs for childhood obesity could benefit from this line of research

Association (psychology · Body mass index · Cognition · Confounding · Eating behavior · Emotional eating · Obesity · Psychiatry · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Clinical Psychology · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology