Search Results (684)

Background/Objectives: Chronic stress contributes to obesity through maladaptive eating behaviors, including emotional eating (eating due to negative emotions) and binge eating (consuming large amounts of food with a loss of control). A theoretical model suggests that emotional eating can escalate to binge eating along a severity continuum, but this sequential pathway from stress to higher body mass index (BMI) has remained empirically untested. Therefore, this study examined a serial mediation model in which perceived stress predicts BMI sequentially through emotional eating and then binge eating. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 272 Korean adults completed the Perceived Stress Scale, the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (emotional eating subscale), and the Binge Eating Scale. The serial mediation model was tested using PROCESS macro model 6, with age, gender, and education as covariates. Results: The serial mediation pathway (stress → emotional eating → binge eating → BMI) was statistically significant (indirect effect B = 0.071, 95% CI [0.041, 0.112]). A separate simple mediation path through binge eating alone was also significant (B = 0.056, 95% CI [0.018, 0.102]), whereas the path through emotional eating alone was not significant. The total indirect effect (B = 0.108, 95% CI [0.052, 0.172]) was significant, indicating that the influence of stress on BMI was fully mediated by the eating behaviors modeled. Conclusions: This study provides the first empirical evidence supporting a sequential pathway from stress to elevated BMI via the progression from emotional to binge eating. The findings support the overeating continuum model and highlight binge eating as a pivotal mediator. This behavioral progression suggests that emotional and binge eating are distinct stages, offering crucial opportunities for tailored prevention and intervention. Full article

Eating disorders are characterised by concerns about food, body image, and weight control and/or reduction. They are more frequently described in women, and emotion regulation plays a central role in both their development and persistence. The aim of this study was to analyse the sensitivity and specificity of emotion regulation in predicting disordered eating symptoms in a sample of female university students. Non-probabilistic sampling was used to recruit 558 female university students, with a mean age of 20.63 years (SD = 1.88). An adaptation in Spanish of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and the Spanish version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (S-EDE-Q) were administered. The findings suggested that scores related to emotion dysregulation, emotional rejection, and emotional interference may help distinguish women with disordered eating symptoms associated with food restriction and eating concerns. It is important to have sensitive tools that can identify at-risk populations as well as relevant psychological constructs linked to eating disorders when developing intervention programmes. Full article

Recent years have witnessed a concerning rise in early-onset eating disorders (EDs), prompting a re-evaluation of their etiology, diagnosis, and treatment within pediatric populations. This perspective article synthesizes emerging evidence on the multifactorial origins of EDs in children, emphasizing a biopsychosocial framework that integrates genetic, epigenetic, psychological, and environmental factors. While early manifestations often diverge from adolescent or adult profiles—marked by somatic complaints, selective eating, and ritualistic behaviors—the disorders significantly interfere with developmental milestones. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated vulnerabilities, acting as a catalyst for disordered eating behaviors through increased familial stress, isolation, and disrupted routines. Central to this framework is the role of parental psychopathology and parent–child feeding interactions, which profoundly shape children’s emotional regulation and attachment patterns. Recent studies also underscore genetic susceptibilities—especially variants in the DRD4 and DAT1 genes—and epigenetic modifications that may mediate the transmission of risk across generations. The article reviews evidence from observational and genomic studies, highlighting how altered gene expression linked to early environmental stress contributes to the heterogeneity of EDs. Finally, it evaluates prevention and intervention strategies, including family-based treatments, digital health tools, and school-based programs. These strategies are essential for timely detection, individualized care, and reducing long-term impairment. Overall, the paper advocates for a nuanced understanding of EDs in children—recognizing their complex origins and developmental implications—to inform clinical practice, public health policy, and future research in pediatric mental health. Full article

Background: Excessive parental control has been found to be associated with an increasing risk of emotional eating in children, yet the potential moderating role of emotion regulation abilities remains unclear. This study investigated the relationships between different types of parental control and emotional eating, as well as the mediating effects of specific emotion regulation strategies and negative emotions. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 1167 Chinese college students (62.5% females, age: 20.23 ± 1.50 years) recruited via social media. Participants completed the Parental Control Scale, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, and Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS and PROCESS (Model 81), with BMI, age, and gender controlled as a covariate. Mediation effects were tested using the 95% bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals (based on 5000 samples). Results: The results indicate that (1) both parental behavioral control and psychological control were significantly positively correlated with emotional eating, with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate; (2) anxiety and stress in negative emotions partially mediate the relationship between the two dimensions of parental control and emotional eating, while depression did not serve as a mediator in this relationship; (3) expression suppression and stress chain-mediated between the two dimensions of parental control and emotional eating; expression suppression and anxiety chain-mediated between parental psychological control and emotional eating. Conclusions: Higher parental control is associated with increased emotional eating behaviors in children. Anxiety, stressful emotions, and expressive suppression play significant roles. These findings suggest new interventions to reduce emotional eating and associated overweight risks in college students. Full article

Background: Binge eating disorder (BED) frequently arises during the transitional age (18–25 years), a critical developmental period characterized by challenges in autonomy, identity formation, and interpersonal functioning. This study investigated psychopathological predictors of BED risk in this age group, with particular focus on parental bonding, attachment style, body dissatisfaction, alexithymia, and depressive symptoms. Methods: A total of 287 participants aged 18–25 years completed the Binge Eating Scale (BES), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), and Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). Sociodemographic information and body mass index (BMI) were also collected. Results: Compared with non-BED risk groups, individuals at risk of BED exhibited significantly higher BMI, greater alexithymia, higher body dissatisfaction, more insecure attachment patterns, and lower recalled paternal and maternal care. Hierarchical binary logistic regression revealed that the final model explained 56.1% of the variance (Nagelkerke R²) and correctly classified 92.1% of cases. Significant predictors of BED included body dissatisfaction, elevated BMI, low maternal care, and low maternal protection. Conclusions: This study is the first to examine BED risk factors specifically during the transitional age. Findings indicate that body image dissatisfaction, higher BMI, and inadequate maternal emotional care and protection are salient predictors at this life stage. Preventive interventions should integrate parental psychoeducation, nutritional guidance, and therapeutic strategies addressing both eating disorder symptoms and attachment-related difficulties to reduce BED onset and improve psychosocial outcomes in emerging adults. Full article

Background: Parenting styles are associated with various health outcomes among children, such as fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and emotional well-being. Previous literature suggests that responsive parenting styles are associated with improved mental health outcomes. This study examines the association between an adult’s responsive parenting style and the psychosocial outcomes of emotion regulation and loneliness among children. Methods: Using data from the U.S. National Cancer Institute’s Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) cross-sectional survey, this secondary data analysis study seeks to understand how perceived parental responsiveness is associated with adolescents’ emotional health outcomes from the perspective of the adolescent. The sample consisted of 12- to 17-year-olds (n = ~1560), mostly female (50.2%) and non-Hispanic White (63.7%), with a mean age of 14.48 years (SD = 1.61). Results: Through multivariable regression, we found that perceived parental responsiveness negatively predicted adolescent emotion suppression (β = −0.29, p < 0.001), even after controlling for sex, age, race/ethnicity, parental marital status, parental education level, parent’s time spent at work, and the number of kids in the household (β = −0.29, p < 0.001). We also found that perceived parental responsiveness was the strongest predictor for adolescent loneliness (β = −0.27, p < 0.001), even when controlling for sex, age, race/ethnicity, parental marital status, parental education level, parent’s time spent at work, and the number of kids in the household (β = −0.28, p < 0.001). Conclusions: These results suggest that implementing interventions targeting parental responsiveness may be beneficial to improving adolescents’ emotional well-being. Full article

Background/Objectives: Nurses play a vital role in healthcare, yet their demanding working conditions, including long hours, shift work, and stress, can negatively impact health behaviors. In Poland, empirical data on nurses’ eating habits and body composition remain limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate body composition and dietary habits among nurses, and to identify significant relationships and associations between these variables. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 460 Polish nurses. The mean age of the respondents was 45.07 years (SD ± 11.98). Body composition was assessed using the Tanita MC-780 PLUS MA analyzer, and eating behaviors were measured with the standardized My Eating Habits questionnaire (MEH). Advanced statistical analyses including k-means clustering, ANOVA, chi-square tests, Spearman’s correlation, ROC curves, decision tree modeling, and heatmap visualization were used to identify associations. Results: The MEH scores among nurses indicated average eating behavior. However, excess body fat, overweight/obesity, shift work, and holding multiple jobs were significantly associated with emotional overeating, habitual overeating, and restrictive eating. Decision tree analysis identified Body Mass Index (BMI), fat-free mass (FFM) and comorbidities as key predictors of problematic eating patterns. Interaction effects showed that shift work combined with higher BMI further increased the risk of maladaptive behaviors. Heatmaps confirmed the strongest MEH scores in participants with elevated BMI and FFM. Conclusions: The findings underscore the need for targeted workplace interventions promoting healthy eating and weight control among nurses. Recognizing risk factors such as excess weight or multiple job holding can aid in designing effective prevention and health promotion strategies tailored to healthcare professionals. Full article

Background: Italy was among the earliest countries globally to be heavily impacted by the outbreak of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). During this period, schools were closed to students, and distance learning was adopted. The school closure has changed children’s and adolescent’s everyday lives, affecting their emotional resilience and mental health overall. Objectives: The aim of this study was to provide evidence regarding the influence of the pandemic period and lockdown measures on the well-being of adolescents living in Italy. The effects of COVID-19 were evaluated. Methods: The Health Behaviour in School Aged-Children (HBSC) 2021/2022 Italian data were used to describe changes in different dimensions of adolescents’ lives (e.g., family and peer relationships, mental health, school performance, physical activity, eating behaviour, and life in general). Results: Data from a sample of 89,321 adolescents participating in the 2021/22 HBSC wave were analysed. The areas where adolescents reported the greatest positive perceived change due to the pandemic period were family relationships (54.0%) and relationships with friends (44.7%). In contrast, negative changes were noted on mental health (41.1%), physical activity practice (42.9%), and life expectancy in general (37.2%). The effects of the coronavirus measures on family finances (48.9%), eating behaviour (43.6%), and overall health (43.7%) were most frequently assessed as neutral, i.e., neither positive nor negative. Conclusions: These results, in particular the adverse COVID-19 effects, reinforce the idea that during a pandemic, in addition to containing the infectious agent, specific attention must be paid to adolescents’ well-being, preserving their mental health and overall health. Full article

Background: Emotional eating, defined as the tendency to eat in response to emotions, has been associated with various biopsychosocial factors. However, in the Peruvian context, there is limited evidence regarding the specific predictors of this eating behavior in adolescents. Objective: To examine the associations between saturated fat intake, sleep duration, body mass index (BMI), depressive symptoms, age and sex, and emotional eating in Peruvian adolescents. Methods: This was a predictive cross-sectional study based on non-probabilistic sampling. A total of 722 adolescents from four schools located in East Lima were included. A multiple linear regression model was employed to examine the relationships between age, sex, saturated fat intake (SFI), sleep duration, BMI, and depressive symptoms and emotional eating. Results: The model was statistically significant (adjusted R² = 0.301; F = 45.276; p < 0.001), explaining 30.1% of the variance in emotional eating based on the explanatory variables. Being female (β = 0.208; p = 0.011), aged 15 to 18 versus 12 to 14 years (β = 0.083; p < 0.001), having a high SFI (β = 0.186; p < 0.001), sleeping ≥ 7 h (β = −0.126; p < 0.001), and a higher BMI (β = −0.082; p = 0.011) were significantly associated with emotional eating. Depressive symptoms (β = 0.365; p < 0.001) emerged as the strongest predictor in the model. Conclusions: Emotional eating among Peruvian adolescents is associated with psychological, behavioral, and sociodemographic factors. Depressive symptoms showed the strongest association, while longer sleep duration was linked to lower emotional eating scores. These findings highlight the need for integrated interventions targeting mental health, sleep hygiene, and healthy dietary behaviors in adolescents. Full article

Background/Objectives: Emotional eating may be a consequence of acquired cue reactivity, a lack of control, or an inaccurate link between episodic overeating and negative affect, according to a new analysis of its standard measurement. This study was a controlled trial, which was designed to investigate the effect of personalized nutritional psychoeducation on emotional eating behavior. Methods: This study enrolled 95 participants (62 control group and 33 intervention group) who were randomized to treatment and assessed at 3-month follow-up. Over a period of 3 months, six thematic individual sessions were conducted with a frequency of every 15 days for the participants in the intervention group. The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) was used to assess feeding patterns and the manifestation of emotional food consumption in response to emotion. Results: At baseline, it appears that gender is positively related to TFEQ Emotional Score (β: 1.77 (random error: 0.57, p-value: 0.003). BMI (β: −0.11 (random error: 0.04, p-value: 0.003) and waist circumference are negatively related to the TFEQ Emotional Score. Conclusions: Although this study confirmed significant associations of emotional eating and gender, BMI, and waist circumference, the nutritional psychoeducation-based intervention did not exert the expected effects on emotional eating. More high-quality clinical trials need to further be designed to improve emotional eating behavior by applying relevant nutritional psychoeducation-based interventions. Full article

Technological innovation in immersive virtual reality is fostering the development of novel psychotherapeutic interventions in mental health, particularly benefiting populations with limited access to specialized services. This pilot study explores the feasibility, tolerability, and therapeutic potential of an immersive virtual reality-based psychotherapeutic intervention for adolescents and young people with eating disorders in a rural setting. A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design was used, with a control group (n = 5) and an experimental group (n = 5), applying weekly immersive virtual reality sessions focused on body perception and food exposure. Preliminary results showed good acceptance and a low incidence of cybersickness. However, a reduction in anxiety levels was observed in the experimental group after immersive virtual reality exposure, particularly in trait anxiety, suggesting a potential effect of the intervention on emotional regulation. While these changes were not statistically significant, the direction and magnitude of the effect warrant further investigation. Changes in body mass index were also noted during the intervention. The remotely guided sessions, conducted via fifth-generation mobile network connectivity, demonstrated technical feasibility and encouraging clinical outcomes, even in geographically isolated or underserved areas. These findings support the use of immersive VR as a complementary tool in the early stages of treatment for eating disorders, contributing to improved body perception and emotional self-regulation. This work not only reinforces the applicability of immersive technology in real-world clinical practice but also opens new avenues for the development of personalized, accessible, and emotionally meaningful interventions in child and adolescent mental health. Full article

Background: Eating disorder (ED) symptoms and body image (BI) concerns involve serious risks to the physical and mental health of women and men. Social networking sites have amplified the promotion of idealised body images, contributing to this issue. Objectives: This study examines the link between personal and emotional factors, social media body image-related behaviours, BI concerns, and ED symptoms, as well as the differential role of these factors according to gender. Methods: A cross-sectional design was applied. The participants were 201 Spanish adults (mean age = 28.26; 76.6% women) who completed self-reported measures on BI (MBSRQ), ED symptoms (EAT-26), perfectionism (EDI-2), anxiety, depression, stress (DASS-21), emotional dysregulation (DERS), life satisfaction (SWLS), and social media BI-related behaviours. Results: Significant relationships between ED symptoms and BI concerns with personal and emotional factors and social media body image-related behaviours have been found. Women have scored higher in ED symptoms and social media BI-related behaviours than men. Multiple regression analyses showed that the difficulty in accepting emotions and not posting images due to BI dissatisfaction were risk factors for ED symptoms in both men and women. Furthermore, the adverse effect of perfectionism and low life satisfaction on women’s ED symptoms were demonstrated, whereas in men, goal-directed behaviours were associated with ED risk. Conclusions: These results suggest that prevention programmes focusing on emotional regulation and healthier social media use can be effective for ED symptoms and BI concerns. Full article

Background and Objectives: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which is becoming increasingly common in contemporary society, is recognized for its considerable psychosocial impact on pregnant women throughout the perinatal phase. The purpose of this research was to explore the possible links between mental health status and dietary habits among pregnant women diagnosed with GDM, alongside examining how these factors correlate with clinical indicators like HbA1c measurements and the necessity for insulin therapy. Materials and Methods: The study included 82 pregnant participants, 37 with gestational diabetes mellitus and 45 without. Blood samples were collected from all participants for biochemical analysis, including fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, and HbA1c levels, which can be clinical indicators for the presence of gestational diabetes mellitus, and the need for insulin treatment was recorded. Then, participants completed a questionnaire collecting sociodemographic and clinical data as well as the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Salzburg Emotional Eating Scale (SEES), and REZZY Eating Disorders Scale (REZZY). Data were statistically analyzed. Results: A previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes was more frequent in the case group (18.9%) than in the control group (2.2%) (p = 0.020). OGTT positivity was detected in 56.8% of the case group, whereas all control participants had negative results (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in psychological symptom scores or eating behavior assessments (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus were observed to score higher on measures of anxiety, depression, and emotional eating, particularly in response to negative emotions. These findings may indicate a potential association between gestational diabetes and psychological or behavioral factors related to metabolic regulation during pregnancy. Full article

Excessive meat consumption is detrimental to personal health, the environment, and animal welfare. This study examined whether scenarios evoking anticipated pride for achieving, or anticipated guilt for failing, a meat reduction goal—focused on protecting health, the environment, or animal welfare—would affect participants’ anticipated emotions, desire and intention to eat less meat, and ultimately their selection of meat-based food. A between-subjects experimental design was used, with 380 participants randomly assigned to one of seven conditions (six experimental and one control conditions). Experimental scenarios varied by emotion (pride vs. guilt) and goal domain (health, environment, animal welfare), while the control condition focused on sugar reduction. Results showed that scenarios varied in effectiveness depending on the goal addressed and emotion elicited. Specifically, scenarios emphasizing pride for protecting health or the environment reduced meat selection directly, while pride for protecting animals and guilt for harming the environment reduced meat choice indirectly through positive anticipated emotions, desire, and intention. The guilt scenario about endangering animal welfare and the pride scenario for protecting the environment had a total negative effect. This study highlights that emotional appeals—particularly pride for achieving meat reduction goals—may serve as a promising lever for developing impactful communication strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Acrylamide is a probably carcinogenic to humans that naturally forms during the thermal processing of foods. An individual’s lifestyle—especially dietary habits and physical activity—may influence the severity of acrylamide’s adverse health effects. This study aimed to examine the relationship between adolescents’ dietary and exercise behaviors and their dietary acrylamide exposure and associated health risks. Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 370 high school students in Türkiye. Data were collected using the Nutrition Exercise Behavior Scale (NEBS) and a retrospective 24-h dietary recall questionnaire. Acrylamide exposure was calculated based on food intake to estimate carcinogenic (CR) and non-corcinogenic (target hazard quotient: THQ) health risks and analyzed in relation to NEBS scores. Results: Findings indicated that while adolescents are beginning to adopt healthy eating and exercise habits, these behaviors are not yet consistent. Emotional eating and unhealthy food choices still occur. Higher acrylamide exposure and risk values were observed in boys and underweight individuals. This can be explained mainly by the fact that boys consume more of certain foods—especially bread, which contains relatively higher levels of acrylamide—than girls do, and that underweight individuals have lower body weights despite consuming similar amounts of food as other groups. Bread products emerged as the primary source of daily acrylamide intake. Positive correlations were found between NEBS total and subscale scores and acrylamide exposure and health risk values. Conclusions: The study demonstrates a significant association between adolescents’ health behaviors and acrylamide exposure. These results underscore potential public health concerns regarding acrylamide intake during adolescence and emphasize the need for targeted nutritional interventions to reduce risk and promote sustainable healthy behaviors. Full article