Emotional and behavioral problems associated with food addiction in children and adolescents with obesity

IF 2.5 4区医学 Q3 ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM

Obesity research & clinical practice Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI:10.1016/j.orcp.2025.02.002

Hye-Ji An , Sarah Woo , Hyun Jung Lim , Yoon Myung Kim , Kyung Hee Park

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

This observational study investigated the association between food addiction (FA) and emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents with obesity.

Method

This study enrolled 224 children and adolescents with body mass index (BMI) above the 85th percentile (mean age: 11.37). Along with anthropometric measurements, various psychosocial characteristics such as the Youth Self Report (YSR), self-esteem scale, and family function were investigated through questionnaires. Using the Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children (YFAS-C), all participants were divided into the FA and non-FA groups.

Results

The FA group had a higher BMI z-score, lower self-esteem scale score, and lower family function than the non-FA group. The FA group showed significantly higher YSR subscale T-scores, including total problems, internalization, and externalization, and a higher proportion of participants in the borderline and clinical group on the YSR total problems and problem behavior syndrome scales. Linear regression analysis showed that the YFAS-C symptom count score was independently associated with higher total YSR problems (β=0.036, 95 % CI [0.014, 0.059]) and externalizing t-scores (β=0.042, 95 % CI [0.020, 0.064]), and tended to be associated with internalizing t-scores (β=0.021, 95 % CI [-0.0004, 0.042]).

Conclusions

FA was significantly associated with emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents with obesity. Therefore, understanding FA in children and adolescents is important for the prevention and treatment of obesity and psychosocial difficulties.

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来源期刊

Obesity research & clinical practice 医学-内分泌学与代谢

CiteScore

7.10

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

49 days

期刊介绍： The aim of Obesity Research & Clinical Practice (ORCP) is to publish high quality clinical and basic research relating to the epidemiology, mechanism, complications and treatment of obesity and the complication of obesity. Studies relating to the Asia Oceania region are particularly welcome, given the increasing burden of obesity in Asia Pacific, compounded by specific regional population-based and genetic issues, and the devastating personal and economic consequences. The journal aims to expose health care practitioners, clinical researchers, basic scientists, epidemiologists, and public health officials in the region to all areas of obesity research and practice. In addition to original research the ORCP publishes reviews, patient reports, short communications, and letters to the editor (including comments on published papers). The proceedings and abstracts of the Annual Meeting of the Asia Oceania Association for the Study of Obesity is published as a supplement each year.