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Eating behaviors in obese children with pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a: a cross-sectional study
Lulu Wang1, Ashley H Shoemaker2
1School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Insights
Children with pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a (PHP-1a) show hyperphagic eating behaviors similar to obese individuals. This suggests that increased appetite may contribute to obesity in PHP-1a patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Metabolic Disorders
- Genetics
Background:
- Pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a (PHP-1a) is associated with early-onset obesity in children.
- While reduced resting energy expenditure is known, the role of hyperphagia in PHP-1a obesity remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate hyperphagic symptoms in children with PHP-1a.
- To compare eating behaviors in PHP-1a patients with matched controls, obese controls, and normal-weight siblings.
Main Methods:
- A survey assessment using the Hyperphagia Questionnaire (HQ) and Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) was conducted.
- Participants included 10 children with PHP-1a (ages 2-12) and 9 matched controls.
- Secondary analysis compared PHP-1a patients with 30 obese controls and 6 normal-weight siblings.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in HQ or CEBQ scores were found between PHP-1a patients and matched controls.
- PHP-1a patients showed increased interest in food before age 2 compared to siblings (p=0.04).
- PHP-1a patients and obese controls exhibited similar "Desire to Drink" scores, unlike normal-weight siblings.
Conclusions:
- Children with PHP-1a exhibit hyperphagic symptoms comparable to those observed in obese controls.
- These findings suggest hyperphagia may be a contributing factor to obesity in PHP-1a.
Background:
Children with pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a (PHP-1a) develop early-onset obesity. These children have decreased resting energy expenditure but it is unknown if hyperphagia contributes to their obesity.
Methods:
We conducted a survey assessment of patients 2 to 12 years old with PHP-1a and matched controls using the Hyperphagia Questionnaire (HQ) and Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ). Results of the PHP-1a group were also compared with an obese control group and normal weight sibling group.
Results:
We enrolled 10 patients with PHP-1a and 9 matched controls. There was not a significant difference between the PHP-1a group and matched controls for total HQ score (p = 0.72), Behavior (p = 0.91), Drive (p = 0.48) or Severity (p = 0.73) subset scores. There was also no difference between the PHP-1a group and matched controls on the CEBQ. In a secondary analysis, the PHP-1a group was compared with obese controls (n = 30) and normal weight siblings (n = 6). Caregivers reported an increased interest in food before age 2 years in 6 of 10 PHP-1a patients (60%), 9 of 30 obese controls (30%) and none of the siblings (p = 0.04). The sibling group had a significantly lower Positive Eating Behavior score than the PHP-1a group (2.6 [2.4, 2.9] vs. 3.5 [3.1, 4.0], p < 0.01) and obese controls (2.6 [2.4, 2.9] vs. 3.4 [2.6, 3.8], p = 0.04), but there was not a significant difference between the PHP-1a and obese controls (p = 0.35). The sibling group had a lower Desire to Drink score than both the PHP-1a group (1.8 [1.6, 2.7] vs. 4.3 [3.3, 5.0], p < 0.01) and obese controls (1.8 [1.6, 2.7] vs. 3.3 [3.0, 4.0], p < 0.01) but there was not a significant difference between the PHP-1a and obese control Desire to Drink scores (p = 0.11).
Conclusions:
Patients with PHP-1a demonstrate hyperphagic symptoms similar to matched obese controls.
