Affect and eating behavior in obese adults with and without elevated depression symptoms
Andrea B Goldschmidt1, Ross D Crosby, Scott G Engel
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
The International Journal of Eating Disorders
|September 10, 2013
Summary
Obese adults with depression symptoms reported more emotional and binge eating, alongside higher negative mood. Addressing disordered eating is crucial for obesity and depression interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Obesity Research
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Obesity and depression share a modest association, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
- Understanding the interplay between mood and eating behaviors in obese individuals is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate mood and eating behaviors in obese adults with and without elevated depression symptoms.
- To explore the relationship between depression, emotional eating, and body mass index (BMI).
Main Methods:
- Fifty obese adults were categorized based on Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores (≥14 for probable depression).
- Participants completed questionnaires and ecological momentary assessments (EMA) to measure affect and eating behaviors.
- ANCOVA and mixed model regression analyses were employed.
Main Results:
- Obese adults with probable depression reported significantly greater emotional eating and binge eating.
- Higher daily negative affect was also reported by the depressed group.
- Emotional eating mediated the association between depression status and BMI.
Conclusions:
- Elevated depression symptoms in obese adults are linked to increased emotional and binge eating, often accompanied by low mood.
- Interventions for obesity and/or depression should incorporate strategies to address disordered eating patterns.
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