Binge eating, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors in participants of the ELSA-Brazil

Is work-family conflict a pathway between job strain components and binge eating? A cross-sectional analysis from the ELSA-Brasil study

BACKGROUND

Job strain has been reported as a trigger for binge eating, yet the underlying mechanisms have been unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether work-family conflict is a pathway in the association between job strain and binge eating, considering the possible effect-modifying influence of body mass index (BMI).

METHODS

This cross-sectional analysis included 12,084 active civil servants from the multicenter Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Job strain was assessed using the Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire. Work-family conflict was considered as a latent variable comprising three items. Binge eating was defined as eating a large amount of food in less than 2 h at least twice a week in the last six months with a sense of lack of control over what and how much was eaten. Structural equation modelling was used to test the role of work-family conflict in the association between job strain and binge eating, stratifying for BMI.

RESULTS

For individuals of normal weight, positive associations were found between skill discretion and binge eating (standardized coefficient [SC] = 0.209, 95%CI = 0.022-0.396), and between psychological job demands and work-family conflict (SC = 0.571, 95%CI = 0.520-0.622), but no statistically significant indirect effect was found. In overweight individuals, psychological job demands, skill discretion, and work-family conflict were positively associated with binge eating (SC = 0.099, 95%CI = 0.005-0.193; SC = 0.175, 95%CI = 0.062-0.288; and SC = 0.141, 95%CI = 0.077-0.206, respectively). Also, work-family conflict was observed to be a pathway on the associations of psychological job demands and decision authority with binge eating (SC = 0.084, 95%CI = 0.045-0.122; and SC =  - 0.008, 95%CI =  - 0.015- - 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Work-family conflict partly explains effects of high levels of psychological job demands and low levels of decision authority on binge eating among overweight individuals. Moreover, skill discretion is positively associated with binge eating, regardless of BMI category.

Binge eating and alcohol consumption: an integrative review

OBJECTIVE

To identify the relationship between binge eating and alcohol consumption.

METHODS

This is an integrative literature review of publications from 2015 to 2019, using the Pubmed, Cinhahl, Psynet, Lilacs, Embase and Web of Science virtual databases and the descriptors ("Binge-Eating" OR "Bulimia") AND Alcohol* in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

RESULTS

A total of 964 articles were found. After reading the titles and abstracts and excluding duplicates, 36 articles were included in the final sample (35 in English and one in Portuguese). They were grouped into three thematic categories: "sample profile and characterization", "genetic and environmental factors", and "emotions and behavior".

CONCLUSIONS

The data indicate the existence of a relationship between binge eating and alcohol use, and some factors were associated with this comorbidity. Still, there were few publications on the theme at the national level, indicating the need for developing more research. These findings may support therapeutic actions and strategies for identification of cases, embracing approaches and more effective treatments to meet the individual's biopsychosocial demands.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level V, narrative review.

A longitudinal study of weight and shape concerns and disordered eating groups by gender and their relationship to self-control

PURPOSE

Weight/shape concerns and disordered eating are common among young adults. Minimal research has examined these variables longitudinally by gender and in connection to self-control. The present study examined the level of weight/shape concerns and disordered eating at the end of the first and fourth year of college separately by gender and explored differences in self-control.

METHODS

Participants included 394 female and 157 male undergraduates (N = 551; 40% non-white) who were categorized into three groups using a cluster analysis by gender: low weight/shape concerns and low disordered eating (LowWS-LowDE group), high weight/shape concerns and low disordered eating (HighWS-LowDE group), and high weight/shape concerns and high disordered eating (HighWS-HighDE group).

RESULTS

Approximately, 62% of women and 54% of men reported having weight/shape concerns and/or disordered eating at the end of the first year of college, and around 51% of women and 44% of men reported having weight/shape concerns and/or disordered eating at the end of the fourth year. Results indicated that those in the HighWS-HighDE group had lower self-control compared to those in the LowWS-LowDE group at the end of the first and fourth year in both women and men. Women, but not men, who worsened in weight/shape concerns and/or disordered eating over time also reported significantly decreased self-control from their first to their fourth year.

CONCLUSION

Findings support the role of self-control in the maintenance of weight/shape concerns and disordered eating for both women and men.

LEVEL III

Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies.

Relationship between anxiety, depressive symptoms and compulsive overeating disorder in patients with cardiovascular diseases

Objectives:

to identify the presence of compulsive overeating disorder in patients with cardiovascular diseases and to verify its relation with sociodemographic, clinical variables and the presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Method:

cross-sectional, correlational study with a sample of 111 patients with cardiovascular diseases. The presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms was assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale instrument and compulsive overeating disorder was assessed through a likert instrument called the Periodic Eating Disorder Scale (Binge Eating Scale).

Results:

there was a predominance of patients without compulsive overeating disorder (n=91, 82%), followed by moderated compulsive overeating (n=15, 13.5%) and severe (n=5, 4.5%) associating to high levels of body mass index (p=0.010) and the presence of anxiety (p=0.017).

Conclusion:

Compulsive overeating disorder was present in 18% of the patients, being associated with body mass index and anxiety, suggesting that health professionals should pay attention to the comprehensive evaluation of patients with cardiovascular diseases. Important results emerged from this study, emphasizing the need to implement programs to improve the patients’ mental and physical health in both primary and specialized care services.