Identifying Loss of Control Eating within Childhood Obesity

The Importance of Family Environment and Child Psychological Distress

Bibliographic Data

ID15717637
AuthorsAna R Sepúlveda (0000-0002-6041-2889, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, corresponding author), Tatiana Lacruz (0000-0001-7512-3548, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Santos Solano (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Miriam Blanco (0000-0002-5040-8878, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Alba Méndez Moreno (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Alba Moreno (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Marta Rojo (0000-0003-4747-4433, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Lucía Beltrán‐Garrayo (0000-0002-7254-9575, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Montserrat Graell (0000-0003-2606-7986, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús)
Year2020
Volume7
Issue11
Pages225-225
Publication date2020-11-11
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueChildren (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2227-9067 • E-ISSN: 2227-9067
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/children7110225
PMID33187289
OpenAlexW3102291630
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited33

This study aims to examine the differences in family environment, psychological distress, and disordered eating symptomatology between children classified by weight status with or without loss of control (LOC) eating and to test a model of the role of emotional regulation of LOC eating based on a dysfunctional family environment. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 239 families. The assessment measured family expressed emotion, family adaptability and cohesion, child levels of depression and anxiety, body esteem, and disordered eating attitudes. The assessment was carried out in primary care centers and primary schools. Child body mass index (BMI) was associated with higher expressed emotion, psychological distress, and disordered eating symptomatology. Children with obesity and LOC presented higher BMI, poorer body esteem, and more disordered eating attitudes than children without LOC. Children with overweight/obesity, both with or without LOC, exhibited higher psychological distress and emotional overinvolvement than normal-weight children. A partial mediation of depression or anxiety and disordered eating attitudes between expressed emotion and LOC was found. Findings support that children with overweight/obesity show more family and psychological distress. Body esteem issues and disordered eating attitudes could alert the presence of LOC in children with obesity. The function of LOC might be to cope with psychological distress that may appear in a dysfunctional family environment

Anxiety · Body mass index · Disordered eating · Distress · Dysfunctional family · Eating behavior · Eating disorders · Emotional eating · Obesity · Overweight · Psychiatry · Clinical Psychology · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Medicine · Obesity and Health Practices · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology

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