OBJECTIVE: Although there is a modest relation between obesity and depression, mechanisms that contribute to this co-occurrence are unclear. This study examined mood and eating behavior among obese adults with and without elevated depression symptoms. METHOD: Obese adults (N = 50) were subtyped according to a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) cutoff of 14, indicating "probable depression." Participants with (BDI ≥ 14; n = 15) and without (BDI < 14; n = 35) elevated depression symptoms were compared on affect- and eating-related variables measured via questionnaire and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) using ANCOVA and mixed model regression. RESULTS: After adjusting for group differences in body mass index (BMI; p = .03), participants with elevated depression symptoms reported greater emotional eating via self-report questionnaire [F(1,50) = 4.3; p = .04], as well as more frequent binge eating (Wald χ(2) = 13.8; p < .001) and higher daily negative affect (Wald χ(2) = 7.7; p = .005) on EMA recordings. Emotional eating mediated the relationship between depression status and BMI (indirect effect estimate = 3.79; 95% CI = 1.02-7.46). DISCUSSION: Emotional eating and binge eating were more commonly reported by obese adults with elevated depression symptoms compared to those without and may occur against a general backdrop of overall low mood. Intervention and prevention programs for obesity and/or depression should address disordered eating to prevent or minimize adverse health consequences.
OBJECTIVE: Although there is a modest relation between obesity and depression, mechanisms that contribute to this co-occurrence are unclear. This study examined mood and eating behavior among obese adults with and without elevated depression symptoms. METHOD:Obese adults (N = 50) were subtyped according to a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) cutoff of 14, indicating "probable depression." Participants with (BDI ≥ 14; n = 15) and without (BDI < 14; n = 35) elevated depression symptoms were compared on affect- and eating-related variables measured via questionnaire and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) using ANCOVA and mixed model regression. RESULTS: After adjusting for group differences in body mass index (BMI; p = .03), participants with elevated depression symptoms reported greater emotional eating via self-report questionnaire [F(1,50) = 4.3; p = .04], as well as more frequent binge eating (Wald χ(2) = 13.8; p < .001) and higher daily negative affect (Wald χ(2) = 7.7; p = .005) on EMA recordings. Emotional eating mediated the relationship between depression status and BMI (indirect effect estimate = 3.79; 95% CI = 1.02-7.46). DISCUSSION: Emotional eating and binge eating were more commonly reported by obese adults with elevated depression symptoms compared to those without and may occur against a general backdrop of overall low mood. Intervention and prevention programs for obesity and/or depression should address disordered eating to prevent or minimize adverse health consequences.
Authors: Lucy F Faulconbridge; Thomas A Wadden; Richard R Rubin; Rena R Wing; Michael P Walkup; Anthony N Fabricatore; Mace Coday; Brent Van Dorsten; David L Mount; Linda J Ewing Journal: Obesity (Silver Spring) Date: 2011-10-20 Impact factor: 5.002
Authors: Floriana S Luppino; Leonore M de Wit; Paul F Bouvy; Theo Stijnen; Pim Cuijpers; Brenda W J H Penninx; Frans G Zitman Journal: Arch Gen Psychiatry Date: 2010-03
Authors: J M Murphy; N J Horton; J D Burke; R R Monson; N M Laird; A Lesage; A M Sobol Journal: Int J Obes (Lond) Date: 2009-01-13 Impact factor: 5.095
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Authors: Andrea B Goldschmidt; Ross D Crosby; Li Cao; Carolyn M Pearson; Linsey M Utzinger; Carly R Pacanowski; Tyler B Mason; Laura A Berner; Scott G Engel; Stephen A Wonderlich; Carol B Peterson Journal: Eat Behav Date: 2017-01-17
Authors: Andrea E Kass; Erin C Accurso; Andrea B Goldschmidt; Seeba Anam; Catherine E Byrne; Kate Kinasz; Alexandria Goodyear; Setareh O'Brien; Daniel Le Grange Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2015-08-18 Impact factor: 4.861
Authors: Joseph A Wonderlich; Jason M Lavender; Stephen A Wonderlich; Carol B Peterson; Scott J Crow; Scott G Engel; Daniel Le Grange; James E Mitchell; Ross D Crosby Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2014-09-05 Impact factor: 4.861