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Increased emotional eating during COVID-19 associated with lockdown, psychological and social distress.
Cecchetto, C, Aiello, M, Gentili, C, Ionta, S, Osimo, SA
Appetite. 2021;160:105122
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After China, Italy was the first country in which the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic rapidly spread. As a consequence, a lockdown was imposed in the entire nation to reduce the spread of infections. The main aim of this study was to investigate how the negative emotions raised by the lockdown and the social features that characterised the quality of life during lockdown interacted with individual characteristics to affect the eating behaviour during the lockdown. This study is based on an anonymous online survey which was shared via social media targeting Italian residents or speakers who were 18 years of age or older. A total of 365 participants were considered for this study. Results indicate that: - increased emotional eating was significantly predicted by higher level of anxiety, depression, and partially, by Quality of Life and Quality of the Relationships. - increased binge eating was predicted by higher stress. - higher alexithymia [a broad term to describe problems with feeling emotions] scores were associated by increased emotional eating and higher body mass index scores were associated with both increased emotional eating and binge eating. - emotional eating and binge eating decreased significantly in Phase 2 compared to Phase 1 of the lockdown period. Authors conclude that future policies during lockdown should also take into consideration the emotional toll on individual well-being and should include measures of psychological support.
Abstract
Due to the spread of COVID 2019, the Italian government imposed a lockdown on the national territory. Initially, citizens were required to stay at home and not to mix with others outside of their household (Phase 1); eventually, some of these restrictions were lifted (Phase 2). To investigate the impact of lockdown on emotional and binge eating, an online survey was conducted to compare measures of self-reported physical (BMI), psychological (Alexithymia), affective (anxiety, stress, and depression) and social (income, workload) state during Phase 1 and Phase 2. Data from 365 Italian residents showed that increased emotional eating was predicted by higher depression, anxiety, quality of personal relationships, and quality of life, while the increase of bingeing was predicted by higher stress. Moreover, we showed that higher alexithymia scores were associated by increased emotional eating and higher BMI scores were associated with both increased emotional eating and binge eating. Finally, we found that from Phase 1 to Phase 2 binge and emotional eating decreased. These data provide evidence of the negative effects of isolation and lockdown on emotional wellbeing, and, relatedly, on eating behaviour.
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Brain-Behavior-Immune Interaction: Serum Cytokines and Growth Factors in Patients with Eating Disorders at Extremes of the Body Mass Index (BMI) Spectrum.
Caroleo, M, Carbone, EA, Greco, M, Corigliano, DM, Arcidiacono, B, Fazia, G, Rania, M, Aloi, M, Gallelli, L, Segura-Garcia, C, et al
Nutrients. 2019;11(9)
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Eating disorders such as anorexia, binge eating and night-time eating cause great fluctuations in body mass and have also been shown to alter the immune system, and more specifically markers of inflammation called cytokines. In this observational study of 90 patients with known eating disorders, the researchers tried to identify how much BMI, ‘underweightness’ and malnutrition influenced the body’s pro-inflammatory response and upset the normal immune response. They found that many inflammatory cytokines were elevated in the blood samples taken, a likely response to the conditions of stress in the body. These cytokines are known to interact with the nervous system and were also influenced by other common symptoms such as depression. They were able to group the differences in cytokines for anorexia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, post-dinner eating, night-eating, sweet-eating and fasting. These markers of dysfunctional eating behaviours may help form part of a therapeutic approach to treating eating disorders based on supporting the immune response and reducing inflammation to stabilise metabolic processes. Future studies in a larger population of patients is necessary to determine the relevance of these findings.
Abstract
Alterations of the immune system are known in eating disorders (EDs), however the importance of cytokine balance in this context has not been clarified. We compared cytokines and growth factors at opposite ends of BMI ranges, in 90 patients classified in relation to BMI, depressive and EDs comorbidities. Serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were determined by a biochip analyzer (Randox Labs). Differences were calculated through ANOVA. Possible predictors of higher cytokine levels were evaluated through regression analysis. IL-1α, IL-10, EGF, and IFN-γ were altered individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) and binge eating disorder (BED). Night-eating was associated with IL-8 and EGF levels, IL-10 concentrations with post-dinner eating and negatively with sweet-eating, long fasting with higher IFN-γ levels. IL-2 increase was not linked to EDs, but to the interaction of depression and BMI. Altogether, for the first time, IL-1α, IL-10, EGF, and IFN-γ were shown to differ between AN and HCs, and between AN and individuals with obesity with or without BED. Only IL-2 was influenced by depression. Dysfunctional eating behaviors predicted abnormal concentrations of IL-10, EGF, IL-8 and IFN-γ.
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Psychological, pharmacological, and combined treatments for binge eating disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Ghaderi, A, Odeberg, J, Gustafsson, S, Råstam, M, Brolund, A, Pettersson, A, Parling, T
PeerJ. 2018;6:e5113
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It is estimated that between 1% and 4% of the population suffer from binge eating disorder (BED), which is characterised by episodes of binge eating and a lack of control over eating. People with BED tend to have lower mental wellbeing and are more likely to be overweight or obese, leading to increased risk of related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Treatments for BED include psychological treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and medication such as selective serotonin re-update inhibitors (SSRIs) and weight-loss medication, as well as medications that are normally prescribed for attention deficit disorders, addictions and epilepsy. The aim of this review was to evaluate previous trials on the effectiveness of a range of psychological, pharmacological and combined treatments for BED. The authors looked at 45 trials which included over 4,000 participants. They found moderate support for the effectiveness of CBT and guided self-help for the treatment of BED in stopping or reducing the frequency of binge eating. Overall, there was a lack of long-term follow-ups, with no data on the long-term effect of medications. Interesting, the use of SSRIs did not have a significant impact on depressed mood in people with BED and lisdexamfetamine was the only intervention associated with a reduction in BMI (an expected finding as this medication is associated with some loss of appetite). There were very few studies that directly compared psychological treatments with medication, and a lack of evidence on the effectiveness of treatment in younger adults and teenagers. The authors concluded that more long-term studies are needed in the treatment of BED (included exploring quality of life), standardised assessments of BED and people from underrepresented populations (e.g. adolescents).
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To systematically review the efficacy of psychological, pharmacological, and combined treatments for binge eating disorder (BED). METHOD Systematic search and meta-analysis. RESULTS We found 45 unique studies with low/medium risk of bias, and moderate support for the efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and CBT guided self-help (with moderate quality of evidence), and modest support for interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), and lisdexamfetamine (with low quality of evidence) in the treatment of adults with BED in terms of cessation of or reduction in the frequency of binge eating. The results on weight loss were disappointing. Only lisdexamfetamine showed a very modest effect on weight loss (low quality of evidence). While there is limited support for the long-term effect of psychological treatments, we have currently no data to ascertain the long-term effect of drug treatments. Some undesired side effects are more common in drug treatment compared to placebo, while the side effects of psychological treatments are unknown. Direct comparisons between pharmaceutical and psychological treatments are lacking as well as data to generalize these results to adolescents. CONCLUSION We found moderate support for the efficacy of CBT and guided self-help for the treatment of BED. However, IPT, SSRI, and lisdexamfetamine received only modest support in terms of cessation of or reduction in the frequency of binge eating. The lack of long-term follow-ups is alarming, especially with regard to medication. Long-term follow-ups, standardized assessments including measures of quality of life, and the study of underrepresented populations should be a priority for future research.
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Randomized controlled trial comparing smartphone assisted versus traditional guided self-help for adults with binge eating.
Hildebrandt, T, Michaelides, A, Mackinnon, D, Greif, R, DeBar, L, Sysko, R
The International journal of eating disorders. 2017;50(11):1313-1322
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Mobile technology offers the potential for greater accessibility to patients, and a reduced treatment burden, which could increase adherence to self-help treatments. The aim of this randomised controlled study was to test the efficacy of a smartphone app – Noom Monitor - compared to traditional cognitive behaviour therapy in the management of binge eating episodes. The study recruited 66 adults who were randomized into two groups: cognitive-behaviour therapy through self-guided help or cognitive-behaviour therapy through self-guided help using Noom Monitor. Results show that patients receiving cognitive-behaviour therapy through self-guided help using Noom Monitor experienced a greater reduction in objective bulimic episodes and purging, and an increase in weekly meal and snack adherence. Authors conclude that smartphone apps can improve initial outcomes of cognitive-behaviour therapy through self-guided help and may offer a useful way to improve participant adherence among those who stay engaged in the treatment.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Guided self-help treatments based on cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT-GSH) are efficacious for binge eating. With limited availability of CBT-GSH in the community, mobile technology offers a means to increase use of these interventions. The purpose of this study was to test the initial efficacy of Noom Monitor, a smartphone application designed to facilitate CBT-GSH (CBT-GSH + Noom), on study retention, adherence, and eating disorder symptoms compared to traditional CBT-GSH. METHOD Sixty-six men and women with DSM-5 binge-eating disorder (BED) or bulimia nervosa (BN) were randomized to receive eight sessions of CBT-GSH + Noom (n = 33) or CBT-GSH (n = 33) over 12 weeks. Primary symptom outcomes were eating disorder examination objective bulimic episodes (OBEs), subjective bulimic episodes (SBEs), and compensatory behaviors. Assessments were collected at 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 36 weeks. Behavioral outcomes were modeled using zero-inflated negative-binomial latent growth curve models with intent-to-treat. RESULTS There was a significant effect of treatment on change in OBEs (β = -0.84, 95% CI = -1.49, -0.19) favoring CBT-GSH + Noom. Remission rates were not statistically different between treatments for OBEs (βlogit = -0.73, 95% CI = -1.86, 3.27; CBT-GSH-Noom = 17/27, 63.0% vs. CBT-GSH 11/27, 40.7%, NNT = 4.5), but CBT-GSH-Noom participants reported greater meal and snack adherence and regular meal adherence mediated treatment effects on OBEs. The treatments did not differ at the 6-month follow-up. DISCUSSION Smartphone applications for the treatment binge eating appear to have advantages for adherence, a critical component of treatment dissemination.
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[Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Depression and Eating Disorders in Patients Submitted to Bariatric Surgery].
Brandão, I, Marques Pinho, A, Arrojado, F, Pinto-Bastos, A, Maia da Costa, J, Coelho, R, Calhau, C, Conceição, E
Acta medica portuguesa. 2016;29(3):176-81
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Bariatric surgery has become the most efficient way to obtain satisfying results in terms of weight loss, comorbidity improvement and survival amongst people with morbid obesity. The aim of the study is to assess the progression of type 2 diabetes and psychopathological variables before and after bariatric surgery. A secondary aim is to analyse the importance of the different variables in weight loss outcomes. The retrospective observational and cross-sectional study involves clinical data of 75 patients, aged between 23 and 64, before and after bariatric surgery. Results indicate that type 2 diabetes improved through bariatric surgery, and that type 2 diabetes, depression and eating disorders have an influence on weight loss postoperatively. Authors conclude that it is important to provide continuous psychiatric follow-up of patients who undergo bariatric surgery.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Obesity is associated with a great number of complications, including type 2 diabetes mellitus and psychiatric pathology. Bariatric surgery is the best solution to weight loss and improvement of complications in morbid obese patients. This study aims to analyze the evolution of type 2 diabetes mellitus and psychopathologic variables before and after bariatric surgery and assess the importance of different variables in weight loss. MATERIAL AND METHODS This is a longitudinal study, which evaluates 75 patients before and after bariatric surgery (47 - LAGB - laparoscopic adjustable gastric band; 19 - RYGB - Roux-en-Y gastric bypass; 9 - sleeve) with a follow-up time between 18 and 46 months. A clinical interview and self report questionnaires were applied - Eating Disorder Examination questionnaire - EDE-Q and Beck Depression Inventory - BDI. RESULTS Results show an improvement in type 2 diabetes mellitus after surgery (X2 (1) = 26.132, p < 0.001). There was not a significant improvement among psychiatric pathology when we controlled the analysis for the type of surgery. It was verified that type 2 diabetes mellitus, depression and eating disorders in post-operative period are associated with less weight loss. This model explains 27% of weight variance after surgery (R2 = 0.265) and it is significant F (3.33) = 2.981, p = 0.038. DISCUSSION Type 2 diabetes mellitus, psychiatric pathology and eating disorders after surgery influenced weight loss. It was not clear in what way this relation was verified, neither the relation that these metabolic and psychological variables may have during the postoperative period. CONCLUSION Type 2 diabetes mellitus improved after surgery. Type 2 diabetes mellitus, depression and eating disorders influenced weight loss in the postoperative period. These variables did not influence weight loss in the preoperative period. Introdução: A obesidade associa-se a um elevado número de comorbilidades, entre as quais a diabetes mellitus tipo 2 e a patologia psiquiátrica. A cirurgia bariátrica tem demonstrado ser a melhor solução para a perda de peso e a melhoria das complicações nos casos de obesidade mórbida. O objetivo deste estudo é o de analisar a evolução da diabetes mellitus tipo 2 e de variáveis psicopatológicas antes e depois da cirurgia bariátrica e verificar o seu impacto na perda de peso. Material e Métodos: É um estudo longitudinal, que avalia 75 indivíduos antes e depois de serem submetidos a cirurgia bariátrica (47 - banda gástrica; 19 - bypass Roux-en-Y gástrico; 9 - sleeve gástrico), com tempo de follow-up entre 18 e 46 meses. Os instrumentos de avaliação foram a entrevista clínica e os questionários Eating Disorder Examination questionnaire - EDE-Q e Beck Depression Inventory - BDI. Resultados: Verificou-se melhoria relativamente à variável dicotómica diabetes mellitus tipo 2 após a cirurgia (X(1) = 26,132, p < 0,001). Não ocorreu melhoria significativa em termos de patologia psiquiátrica quando a análise foi controlada para o tipo de cirurgia. Encontrámos uma associação significativa entre as variáveis em estudo no pós-cirúrgico e a perda de peso. Este modelo explica 27% da variação do peso após a cirurgia (R2 = 0,265) e é significativo F (3,33) = 2,981, p = 0,038. Discussão: A diabetes mellitus tipo 2, patologia depressiva ou do comportamento alimentar mostraram estar relacionados com a perda de peso. Não ficou esclarecido em que sentido esta relação é estabelecida, nem a relação que estas variáveis metabólicas e psicológicas possam ter entre si ao longo do período pós cirurgia bariátrica. Conclusão: A diabetes mellitus tipo 2 evoluiu favoravelmente após a cirurgia. Diabetes mellitus tipo 2, depressão e patologia alimentar no período pós-cirúrgico associaram-se a menor perda de peso. As variáveis estudadas no período pré cirúrgico não contribuíram de forma significativa para a perda de peso.
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Binge-eating disorder and the outcome of bariatric surgery in a prospective, observational study: Two-year results.
Chao, AM, Wadden, TA, Faulconbridge, LF, Sarwer, DB, Webb, VL, Shaw, JA, Thomas, JG, Hopkins, CM, Bakizada, ZM, Alamuddin, N, et al
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.). 2016;24(11):2327-2333
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Binge eating disorder is characterised by the consumption of an objectively large amount of food in a discrete period of time (i.e. 2hrs) with an accompanying loss of control over eating. This study is a follow-up study that examined weight loss over an average of 24 months post bariatric surgery (as most studies are based on a shorter duration i.e. less than 12 months) in 59 patients. Another aim of the study was whether bariatric surgery had any effects on the remission or precipitation of binge eating. Results indicate that patients with a preoperative diagnosis of binge-eating disorder lost significantly less weight 2 years after surgery than those individuals who were free from binge-eating prior surgery. However, those with a diagnosis of binge-eating disorder who received lifestyle modifications lost significantly less than those who had bariatric surgery. Authors conclude that bariatric-surgery may be a useful long-term weight loss strategy for patients with eating disorders. However, they also recommend that these patients may benefit from additional counselling and behavioural support, such as cognitive behaviour therapy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A previous study reported that preoperative binge-eating disorder (BED) did not attenuate weight loss at 12 months after bariatric surgery. This report extends the authors' prior study by examining weight loss at 24 months. METHODS A modified intention-to-treat population was used to compare 24-month changes in weight among 59 participants treated with bariatric surgery, determined preoperatively to be free of a current eating disorder, with changes in 33 surgically treated participants with BED. Changes were also compared with 49 individuals with obesity and BED who sought lifestyle modification for weight loss. Analyses included all available data points and were adjusted for covariates. RESULTS At month 24, surgically treated patients with BED preoperatively lost 18.6% of initial weight, compared with 23.9% for those without BED (P = 0.049). (Mean losses at month 12 had been 21.5% and 24.2%, respectively; P = 0.23.) Participants with BED who received lifestyle modification lost 5.6% at 24 months, significantly less than both groups of surgically treated patients (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that preoperative BED attenuates long-term weight loss after bariatric surgery. We recommend that patients with this condition, as well as other eating disturbances, receive adjunctive behavioral support, the timing of which remains to be determined.
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How Does the Brain Implement Adaptive Decision Making to Eat?
Compan, V, Walsh, BT, Kaye, W, Geliebter, A
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 2015;35(41):13868-78
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While food intake is critical for survival, adaptive decision-making can be altered through various mechanisms and eventually lead to disordered eating patterns. Feeding behaviour is dependent on homeostatic rules, motivational drives, biological predispositions and external stressors. This complex web elucidates how humans can decide to satisfy or abstain from hunger cues, and the underlying mechanisms of this behaviour have been increasingly explored. This review summarises the overall neural circuitry in restrictive food choice and binge eating. Serotonergic systems play a key role in eating disorders because they are involved in responses to stress, emotions and feeding behaviour. The decision to overeat or abstain from eating is a reward, and this goal-directed and persistent behaviour mirror some aspects of drug dependence. This review found that voluntary processes in the nervous system could be modified to predominate over homeostatic control of hunger. Eating disorders may emerge when serotonin neurons reach their limit of adaptive capacities, potentially to the extent of compromised survival. This study provides a basis for developing more effective interventions for this population.
Abstract
Adaptive decision making to eat is crucial for survival, but in anorexia nervosa, the brain persistently supports reduced food intake despite a growing need for energy. How the brain persists in reducing food intake, sometimes even to the point of death and despite the evolution of multiple mechanisms to ensure survival by governing adaptive eating behaviors, remains mysterious. Neural substrates belong to the reward-habit system, which could differ among the eating disorders. The present review provides an overview of neural circuitry of restrictive food choice, binge eating, and the contribution of specific serotonin receptors. One possibility is that restrictive food intake critically engages goal-directed (decision making) systems and "habit," supporting the view that persistent caloric restriction mimics some aspects of addiction to drugs of abuse. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT An improved understanding of the neural basis of eating disorders is a timely challenge because these disorders can be deadly. Up to 70 million of people in the world suffer from eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa affects 1-4% of women in United States and is the first cause of death among adolescents in Europe. Studies relying on animal models suggest that decision making to eat (or not) can prevail over actual energy requirements due to emotional disturbances resulting in abnormal habitual behavior, mimicking dependence. These recent studies provide a foundation for developing more specific and effective interventions for these disorders.
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Plasma ghrelin concentrations are lower in binge-eating disorder.
Geliebter, A, Gluck, ME, Hashim, SA
The Journal of nutrition. 2005;135(5):1326-30
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Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is characterised by eating a large quantity of food (objectively) at least 2 times a week for 6 months, and is associated with a loss of feelings of self control. It is found it around 30% of obese individual who participate in weight loss programs. There may be a biological element to this disorder with possible mechanisms including heritability, an enlarged stomach capacity and genetic mutations. Hormones may also play a role in BED. This study aimed to establish whether obese individuals had higher fasting and post feeding ghrelin levels, and slower gastric emptying compared to a non-obese BED control group. 38 overweight and obese women were recruited and classified into one of three groups; non binge eaters (12), binge eaters but not meeting full BED criteria (14) and BED syndrome (11). 10 of the 11 BED women were randomly allocated to a 6 week treatment of either a) cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and a diet or b) a non treatment wait-list control. The study found that the BED women had a lower fasting ghrelin level and that ghrelin also declined less after a meal for this group. The authors stated that this appeared to be counterintuitive because ghrelin (which stimulates hunger) was expected to be higher for overweight and obese people. They suggest that binge eating may down-regulate ghrelin and be a response to over-eating (often when not hungry). They also suggested that ghrelin declining less for overweight and obese BED women may suggest that the magnitude of the ghrelin fall may be linked to higher satiation (so they have lower satiation and continue eating compared to other individuals).
Abstract
Binge-eating disorder (BED), characterized by binge meals without purging afterward, is found in about 30% of obese individuals seeking treatment. The study objective was to ascertain abnormalities in hormones influencing appetite in BED, especially ghrelin, an appetite-stimulating peptide, which was expected to be elevated. Measurements were made of plasma insulin, leptin, glucagon, cholecystokinin, and ghrelin, as well as glucose following an overnight 12-h fast, prior to and after ingestion (from 0 to 5 min) of a nutritionally complete liquid meal (1254 kJ) at 0830 h, at -15, 0, 5, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min. Appetite ratings including hunger and fullness were also obtained. An acetaminophen tracer was used to assess gastric emptying rate. Three groups of comparably obese women (BMI = 35.9 +/- 5.5; % body fat = 44.9 +/- 4.7) participated: 12 nonbinge eating normals (NB), 14 subthreshold BED, and 11 BED. The BED subjects, compared to NB subjects, had lower baseline ghrelin concentrations prior to the meal, a lower area under the curve (AUC), with lower levels at 5, 15, 30, 90, and 120 min, and a smaller decline in ghrelin postmeal (all P < 0.03). The other blood values did not differ among groups, and neither did gastric emptying rate nor ratings of fullness. The BED subjects were then randomly assigned to treatment with cognitive-behavior therapy and diet (n = 5) or to a wait-list control (n = 4). Baseline ghrelin (P = 0.01) and AUC increased (P = 0.02), across both conditions, in which most subjects (7 of 9) stopped binge eating. The lower fasting and postmeal plasma ghrelin levels in BED are consistent with lower ghrelin levels in obese compared to lean individuals and suggests downregulation by binge eating.