Kristen M Culbert1, Megan M Shope2, Cheryl L Sisk3, Kelly L Klump4. 1. Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA. 2. Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. 3. Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA. 4. Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Extant animal and human data indicate that natural variation in circulating levels of testosterone may contribute to differential risk for dysregulated eating among males. Indeed, testosterone ablation in postpubertal male rodents results in stimulatory effects on sweet-taste preferences, and lower levels of circulating testosterone in adolescent boys have been found to predict dysregulated eating symptoms during mid-to-late puberty. Nonetheless, no prior study has examined whether lower testosterone is associated with dysregulated eating in adulthood. The current study examined this possibility. METHOD: Participants were 154 young adult men (ages = 18-33) from a large Southwestern University. The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory, and Loss of Control Over Eating Scale were used to assess three types of dysregulated eating symptoms: eating concerns, binge eating, and loss-of-control eating. Afternoon saliva samples were assayed for testosterone using high-sensitive enzyme immunoassays. RESULTS: Consistent with animal data and prior research in adolescent boys, men with lower testosterone reported significantly higher levels of dysregulated eating symptoms even after controlling for depressive symptoms, body mass index, and age. DISCUSSION: Lower testosterone concentrations might serve as a sex-specific biological factor that contributes to dysregulated eating among men.
OBJECTIVE: Extant animal and human data indicate that natural variation in circulating levels of testosterone may contribute to differential risk for dysregulated eating among males. Indeed, testosterone ablation in postpubertal male rodents results in stimulatory effects on sweet-taste preferences, and lower levels of circulating testosterone in adolescent boys have been found to predict dysregulated eating symptoms during mid-to-late puberty. Nonetheless, no prior study has examined whether lower testosterone is associated with dysregulated eating in adulthood. The current study examined this possibility. METHOD:Participants were 154 young adult men (ages = 18-33) from a large Southwestern University. The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory, and Loss of Control Over Eating Scale were used to assess three types of dysregulated eating symptoms: eating concerns, binge eating, and loss-of-control eating. Afternoon saliva samples were assayed for testosterone using high-sensitive enzyme immunoassays. RESULTS: Consistent with animal data and prior research in adolescent boys, men with lower testosterone reported significantly higher levels of dysregulated eating symptoms even after controlling for depressive symptoms, body mass index, and age. DISCUSSION: Lower testosterone concentrations might serve as a sex-specific biological factor that contributes to dysregulated eating among men.
Authors: Megan N Parker; Marian Tanofsky-Kraff; Ross D Crosby; Meghan E Byrne; Sarah LeMay-Russell; Taylor N Swanson; Eliana Ramirez; Lisa M Shank; Kweku G Djan; Esther A Kwarteng; Loie M Faulkner; Shanna B Yang; Anna Zenno; K Karthik Chivukula; Scott G Engel; Sheila M Brady; Susan Z Yanovski; Jack A Yanovski Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2021-05-04 Impact factor: 5.791
Authors: Megan E Mikhail; Carolina Anaya; Kristen M Culbert; Cheryl L Sisk; Alexander Johnson; Kelly L Klump Journal: Curr Psychiatry Rep Date: 2021-10-06 Impact factor: 8.081