Gastric symptoms and low perceived maternal warmth are associated with eating disorder symptoms in young adolescent girls

Aberrant gastric functioning in weight-restored but not acute restricting-type anorexia nervosa: An electrogastrography study

OBJECTIVE

Individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) have high levels of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, functional GI disorders, and alterations in interoception. The primary aims of the current study were to determine (1) whether individuals with AN differed in gastric physiology as measured by electrogastrography (EGG) as compared to healthy individuals and (2) whether their EGG activity changed from pre- to post-weight restoration.

METHOD

Adolescent and young adult females receiving inpatient treatment for restricting-type AN (n = 20) and healthy control females (n = 21) completed two EGG sessions, with measurements taken in fasting state and after administration of a water load. Participants with AN completed the first session while underweight and the second session following weight restoration. Healthy control participants also completed two sessions matched for length of time between sessions.

RESULTS

Participants with AN exhibited decreased normogastria post-water load when they were weight restored compared to when they were underweight. Healthy control participants' EGG measures were stable across sessions.

DISCUSSION

Findings provide evidence for aberrant gastric physiology in individuals with AN who have been weight restored, but not those in the acute phase of the illness. This supports the need for further research on GI functioning in AN.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a highly debilitating eating disorder that is difficult to treat. The causes of AN are largely unknown, but some theories suggest problems in gastrointestinal functioning may contribute to the disorder. This study found aberrant gastric functioning in individuals diagnosed with AN after weight restoration treatment. These findings contribute to our understanding of the causes and maintenance of AN and may ultimately lead to better treatments.

Parenting Styles and Disordered Eating Among Youths: A Rapid Scoping Review

Youth is a critical period in the development of maladaptive eating behaviors. Previous systematic reviews suggest the etiological significance of parent-child relationships for the onset of disordered eating in youth, but less is known about the role of parenting styles. This rapid scoping review aimed to identify whether research supports the role of parenting styles in the development of disordered eating symptoms among youths. Sixteen studies, retrieved from three databases (PsycArticles, PsycInfo, and BASE), met the inclusion criteria: original studies, published in English, examined the effect of parenting styles (authoritative or neglectful) on cognitive (drives for thinness and body dissatisfaction) and behavioral (weight control behaviors) disordered eating outcomes, among young people up to 18 years of age. Studies supported an association between various youth disordered eating symptoms such as unhealthy weight control behaviors, and experiences of adverse parenting styles characterized by high levels of control and low levels of responsiveness. Associations between adverse parenting styles and youth disordered eating were frequently indirect and differed depending on the sex of the parent and offspring. Synthesis of findings was limited due to variation in the operationalization and measurement of parenting styles, family context and disordered eating across studies. Longitudinal and standardized research is required to better understand the dynamic associations between parenting styles and youth disordered eating. Implications for family-based care in clinical practice are discussed.

The association between episodes of night eating and levels of depression in the general population

OBJECTIVE

Research has suggested that a correlation may exist between depressive mood and episodes of night eating. This study aimed to examine whether having episodes of night eating was associated with increased levels of depression.

METHOD

This study used data from the 2019 Korea Community Health Survey and the study population consisted of adults aged ≥19 years. Depression levels were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. We investigated the patients' general characteristics using t-tests and analysis of variance. The association between depression levels and episodes of night eating was analyzed using a multivariable linear regression analysis. Subgroup analysis was conducted based on daily sleep duration.

RESULTS

We analyzed 34,358 individuals and found higher average depression scores (β: 4.99, p < .001) in those with episodes of night eating than those without. Large effect sizes were found for differences in depression scores between participants with and without episodes of night eating. The magnitude of this increase was particularly pronounced in individuals who reported 9 or more hours of sleep per day.

DISCUSSION

An association was found between levels of depression and episodes of night eating as individuals with episodes of night eating were more likely to have higher depression scores. Our findings suggest the potential need to consider night eating when addressing the mental health of the general population.