Inflammation, Executive Function, and Adiposity in Children With or at Risk for Obesity: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is associated with executive function (EF) deficits across the lifespan. Higher body mass index (BMI), obesity severity, and poorer adherence and weight outcomes in obesity treatment have all been associated with EF deficits. Adult literature has begun to emphasize neuroinflammation in obesity as a possible pathway to later cognitive impairment in EF. However, pediatric obesity literature has yet to establish associations between peripheral inflammation and EF. Thus, the present study examined associations and variability in inflammation, EF, and adiposity in children with or at risk for obesity. Additionally, inflammation was examined as a mediator of the relationship between adiposity and EF. METHODS: Children (N = 39) aged 8-12 years with BMI ≥ 50th percentile were recruited. The NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery was used to assess performance-based EF. Peripheral inflammation was assessed in fasted sera. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans were conducted to assess body composition. Linear regression and Hayes' PROCESS Model 4 (Hayes, 2017) were used to evaluate associations between adiposity and inflammation, inflammation and EF, and whether adiposity effects EF through its effect on inflammation. RESULTS: Positive associations were identified between adiposity and inflammation, and negative to null associations were identified between inflammation and EF. Medium indirect effects of adiposity on EF through inflammation were detected. CONCLUSION: Pilot evidence suggests greater adiposity is linked with greater inflammation, which in turn is associated with less EF in some domains. Directionality and causality cannot yet be established, but with replication, findings may inform efforts to target EF in pediatric obesity.

Pain-Related Stigma and Its Associations With Clinical and Experimental Pain Severity in Youth With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Conditions.

OBJECTIVE: Many children with chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions experience stigma which can have negative downstream consequences. This study compares ratings of clinical pain (current pain intensity and pain interference), experimental pain (temporal summation, cold water tolerance, and cold pain intensity), and pain-related stigma among three groups of youth with rheumatic conditions. The relations among ratings of pain-related stigma and pain variables were explored. METHODS: Eighty-eight youth aged 8-17 years with a diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA = 32), juvenile fibromyalgia (JFM = 31), or non-specific chronic pain (NSCP = 25) completed measures of clinical pain ratings (average 7-day pain intensity, day of assessment pain (DoA), and pain interference), experimental pain (cold pain tolerance, cold pain intensity, and temporal summation of mechanical pain), and pain-related stigma. Data analysis compared pain-related stigma and pain ratings across the three groups and examined the relations among pain-related stigma and pain ratings. RESULTS: Youth with JFM reported higher ratings of clinical pain and pain-related stigma than their counterparts with NSCP or JIA. However, there were no differences in experimental pain. Pain-related stigma was associated with greater ratings of pain interference, particularly for those with JIA and NSCP. Pain-related stigma was also associated with greater average daily pain intensity but not DoA. CONCLUSION: Youth with medically unexplained pain report greater stigma and worse pain than their peers; thus, robust assessment of pain in this population is necessary. Future work should longitudinally explore the impact of pain-related stigma on pain outcomes and treatment responses.

Similar weight loss and maintenance in African American and White women in the Improving Weight Loss (ImWeL) trial.

Objective: African Americans (AA) are often underrepresented and tend to lose less weight than White participants during the intensive phase of behavioral obesity treatment. Some evidence suggests that AA women experience better maintenance of lost weight than White women, however, additional research on the efficacy of extended care programs (i.e. continued contacts to support the maintenance of lost weight) is necessary to better understand these differences.Methods: The influence of race on initial weight loss, the likelihood of achieving ≥5% weight reduction (i.e. extended care eligibility), the maintenance of lost weight and extended care program efficacy was examined in 269 AA and White women (62.1% AA) participating in a 16-month group-based weight management program. Participants achieving ≥5% weight reduction during the intensive phase (16 weekly sessions) were randomized to a clustered campaign extended care program (12 sessions delivered in three, 4-week clusters) or self-directed control.Results: In adjusted models, race was not associated with initial weight loss (p = 0.22) or the likelihood of achieving extended care eligibility (odds ratio 0.64, 95% CI [0.29, 1.38]). AA and White women lost -7.13 ± 0.39 kg and -7.62 ± 0.43 kg, respectively, during initial treatment. There were no significant differences in weight regain between AA and White women (p = 0.64) after adjusting for covariates. Clustered campaign program participants (AA: -6.74 ± 0.99 kg, White: -6.89 ± 1.10 kg) regained less weight than control (AA: -5.15 ± 0.99 kg, White: -4.37 ± 1.04 kg), equating to a 2.12 kg (p = 0.03) between-group difference after covariate adjustments.Conclusions: Weight changes and extended care eligibility were comparable among all participants. The clustered campaign program was efficacious for AA and White women. The high representation and retention of AA participants may have contributed to these findings.

Depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and metabolic health: The REGARDS study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the relationship between metabolic health parameters and depressive symptoms and perceived stress, and whether the co-occurrence of these two psychological stressors has an additive influence on metabolic dysregulation in adults at different levels of body mass index (BMI) without diabetes. METHODS: Participants without diabetes (N = 20,312) from the population-based REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study (recruited between 2003-2007) who had a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 18.5 kg/m2 were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Mean age of sample was 64.4 years, with 36% African American, and 56% women. Depressive symptoms and perceived stress were measured using brief versions of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D-4 item) questionnaire and Cohen Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), respectively. Metabolic health parameters included waist circumference, blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), low- and high-density lipoprotein (LDL, HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Sequentially adjusted general linear regression models (GLM) for each metabolic parameter were used to assess the association between having both elevated depressive symptoms and stress, either of these psychological risk factors, or none with all analyses stratified by BMI category (i.e., normal, overweight, and obesity). RESULTS: The presence of elevated depressive symptoms and/or perceived stress was generally associated with increased waist circumference, higher CRP, and lower HDL. The combination of depressive symptoms and perceived stress, compared to either alone, was typically associated with poorer metabolic health outcomes. However, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors generally attenuated the associations between psychological factors and metabolic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated depressive symptoms in conjunction with high levels of perceived stress were more strongly associated with several parameters of metabolic health than only one of these psychological constructs in a large, diverse cohort of adults. Findings suggest that healthy lifestyle factors may attenuate the association between psychological distress and metabolic health impairment.

Executive Function and Dysregulated Eating Behaviors in Pediatric Obesity.

Objective: To examine the association between caregiver proxy report of executive function (EF) and dysregulated eating behavior in children with obesity. Methods: Participants were 195 youth with obesity aged 8-17 years, and their legal guardians. Youth height, weight, demographics, depressive symptoms, eating behaviors, and EF were assessed cross-sectionally during a medical visit. Analyses of covariance, adjusted for child age, gender, race/ethnicity, standardized BMI, depressive symptoms, and family income were used to examine differences in youth EF across caregiver and youth self-report of eating behaviors. Results: Youth EF differed significantly by caregiver report of eating behavior but not youth self-report. Post hoc analyses showed that youth with overeating or binge eating had poorer EF than youth without these eating behaviors. Conclusions: Executive dysfunction, as reported by caregivers, in youth with obesity may be associated with dysregulated eating behaviors predictive of poor long-term psychosocial and weight outcomes. Further consideration of EF-specific targets for assessment and intervention in youth with obesity may be warranted.

Comparison of an alternative schedule of extended care contacts to a self-directed control: a randomized trial of weight loss maintenance.

BACKGROUND: Behavioral interventions for obesity produce clinically meaningful weight loss, but weight regain following treatment is common. Extended care programs attenuate weight regain and improve weight loss maintenance. However, less is known about the most effective ways to deliver extended care, including contact schedules. METHODS: We compared the 12-month weight regain of an extended care program utilizing a non-conventional, clustered campaign treatment schedule and a self-directed program among individuals who previously achieved ≥5% weight reductions. Participants (N = 108; mean age = 51.6 years; mean weight = 92.6 kg; 52% African American; 95% female) who achieved ≥5% weight loss during an initial 16-week behavioral obesity treatment were randomized into a 2-arm, 12-month extended care trial. A clustered campaign condition included 12 group-based visits delivered in three, 4-week clusters. A self-directed condition included provision of the same printed intervention materials but no additional treatment visits. The study was conducted in a U.S. academic medical center from 2011 to 2015. RESULTS: Prior to randomization, participants lost an average of -7.55 ± 3.04 kg. Participants randomized to the 12-month clustered campaign program regained significantly less weight (0.35 ± 4.62 kg) than self-directed participants (2.40 ± 3.99 kg), which represented a significant between-group difference of 2.28 kg (p = 0.0154) after covariate adjustments. This corresponded to maintaining 87% and 64% of lost weight in the clustered campaign and self-directed conditions, respectively, which was a significant between-group difference of 29% maintenance of lost weight after covariate adjustments, p = 0.0396. CONCLUSIONS: In this initial test of a clustered campaign treatment schedule, this novel approach effectively promoted 12-month maintenance of lost weight. Future trials should directly compare the clustered campaigns with conventional (e.g., monthly) extended care schedules. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02487121 . Registered 06/26/2015 (retrospectively registered).

Peer Victimization in Adolescents With Severe Obesity: The Roles of Self-Worth and Social Support in Associations With Psychosocial Adjustment.

Objective: To examine the associations of peer victimization with internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms, social competence, and academic performance in a clinical sample of adolescents with severe obesity, and whether self-worth and social support affect these associations. Methods: Multisite cross-sectional data from 139 adolescents before weight loss surgery ( M age = 16.9; 79.9% female, 66.2% White; M Body Mass Index [BMI] = 51.5 kg/m 2 ) and 83 nonsurgical comparisons ( M age = 16.1; 81.9% female, 54.2% White; M BMI = 46.9 kg/m 2 ) were collected using self-reports with standardized measures. Results: As a group, participants did not report high levels of victimization. Self-worth mediated the effects of victimization on a majority of measures of adjustment, and further analyses provided evidence of the buffering effect of social support for some mediational models. Conclusions: Self-worth and social support are important targets for prevention and intervention for both victimization and poor adjustment in adolescent severe obesity.

Unhealthy weight control behaviors mediate the association between weight status and weight-specific health-related quality of life in treatment-seeking youth who are obese.

PURPOSE: Examine whether unhealthy and extreme weight control behaviors (WCBs) mediate the relationship between youth weight status and disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in treatment-seeking youth who are overweight and obese (OV/OB). METHOD: 82 youth 10-17 years of age who were OV/OB and attending an outpatient obesity-related medical appointment completed measures assessing unhealthy and extreme WCBs and disease-specific HRQOL. Parents completed a demographic questionnaire and medical staff measured youth height and weight. RESULTS: Regression analyses revealed that unhealthy WCBs mediated the associations between youth weight status and emotional and social avoidance disease-specific HRQOL, such that higher body mass index (BMI) predicted unhealthy WCBs, which were ultimately associated with poorer emotional and social HRQOL. Mediation analyses were not significant for total, physical, teasing/marginalization, and positive attributes disease-specific HRQOL. In addition, extreme WCBs did not mediate the association between youth weight status and any subscales of the disease-specific HRQOL measure. DISCUSSION: Weight status is an important predictor of disease-specific HRQOL in OV/OB youth; however, the association with emotional and social HRQOL is partially accounted for by youth engagement in unhealthy WCBs. Clinicians and researchers should assess WCBs and further research should explore and evaluate appropriate intervention strategies to address unhealthy WCBs in pediatric weight management prevention and treatment efforts.

Depressive Symptoms, Ethnic Identity, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Obese Youth.

OBJECTIVE: Examine relations between depressive symptoms, ethnic identity, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in overweight or obese (OV/OB) children. METHODS: A total of 166 OV/OB 8- to 17-year-olds (M = 12.94 years; 86.7% obese; 50.6% racial/ethnic minority) attending an outpatient pediatric obesity medical clinic participated. Children completed the Children's Depression Inventory-Short Form, Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM), and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. RESULTS: Increased depressive symptoms significantly predicted reduced total, physical, and psychosocial HRQOL. For minority OV/OB youth only, MEIM Affirmation/Belonging moderated depressive symptoms and total HRQOL (effect = -2.59, t = -2.24, p = .027; R(2) overall model = 0.315) and depressive symptoms and psychosocial HRQOL (effect = -3.01, t = -2.47, p = .015; R(2) overall model = 0.331). CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms are negatively associated with HRQOL. In minority OV/OB youth, high ethnic identity may be protective when depressive symptoms are minimal. Ethnic identity and other cultural factors are important to consider in psychosocial treatments for pediatric obesity.

Loss of control eating and eating disorders in adolescents before bariatric surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed loss of control (LOC) eating and eating disorders (EDs) in adolescents undergoing bariatric surgery for severe obesity. METHOD: Preoperative baseline data from the Teen Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (Teen-LABS) multisite observational study (n = 242; median BMI = 51 kg/m2 ; mean age= 17; 76% female adolescents; 72% Caucasian) included anthropometric and self-report questionnaires, including the Questionnaire of Eating and Weight Patterns-Revised (QEWP-R), the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Kids (IWQOL-Kids) RESULTS: LOC eating (27%) was common and ED diagnoses included binge-eating disorder (7%), night eating syndrome (5%), and bulimia nervosa (1%). Compared to those without LOC eating, those with LOC eating reported greater depressive symptomatology and greater impairment in weight-related quality of life. DISCUSSION: Before undergoing bariatric surgery, adolescents with severe obesity present with problematic disordered eating behaviors and meet diagnostic criteria for EDs. LOC eating, in particular, was associated with several negative psychosocial factors. Findings highlight targets for assessment and intervention in adolescents before bariatric surgery. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.(Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:947-952).

Weight-related correlates of psychological dysregulation in adolescent and young adult (AYA) females with severe obesity.

OBJECTIVE: Severe obesity is the fastest growing pediatric subgroup of excess weight levels. Psychological dysregulation (i.e., impairments in regulating cognitive, emotional, and/or behavioral processes) has been associated with obesity and poorer weight loss outcomes. The present study explored associations of dysregulation with weight-related variables among adolescent and young adult (AYA) females with severe obesity. METHODS: Fifty-four AYA females with severe obesity (MBMI = 48.71 kg/m(2); Mage = 18.29, R = 15-21 years; 59.3% White) completed self-report measures of psychological dysregulation and weight-related constructs including meal patterns, problematic eating behaviors, and body and weight dissatisfaction, as non-surgical comparison participants in a multi-site study of adolescent bariatric surgery outcomes. Pearson and bivariate correlations were conducted and stratified by age group to analyze associations between dysregulation subscales (affective, behavioral, cognitive) and weight-related variables. RESULTS: Breakfast was the most frequently skipped meal (consumed 3-4 times/week). Eating out was common (4-5 times/week) and mostly occurred at fast-food restaurants. Evening hyperphagia (61.11%) and eating in the absence of hunger (37.04%) were commonly endorsed, while unplanned eating (29.63%), a sense of loss of control over eating (22.22%), eating beyond satiety (22.22%), night eating (12.96%), and binge eating (11.11%) were less common. Almost half of the sample endorsed extreme weight dissatisfaction. Dysregulation was associated with most weight-related attitudes and behaviors of interest in young adults but select patterns emerged for adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of psychological dysregulation are associated with greater BMI, problematic eating patterns and behaviors, and body dissatisfaction in AYA females with severe obesity. These findings have implications for developing novel intervention strategies for severe obesity in AYAs that may have a multidimensional impact on functioning (e.g., psychosocial health, weight loss behaviors).

Disordered eating and health-related quality of life in overweight and obese children.

OBJECTIVES: To examine disordered eating and associations with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in rural overweight/obese (OW/OB) children. METHODS: Cross-sectional analyses were conducted with 272 rural OW/OB children aged 8-12 years (M = 10.36; SD = 1.39). Child anthropometrics, demographics, disordered eating attitudes, unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs), and HRQOL were measured. Relationships between these variables were analyzed using bootstrapped multiple linear regressions. RESULTS: Clinically significant disordered eating attitudes were endorsed by 17% of the sample, and the majority endorsed UWCBs. Disordered eating attitudes and weight status were the most common predictors of HRQOL. Disordered eating attitudes and UWCBs were negatively related to emotional HRQOL but were unrelated to social, school, or physical HRQOL. CONCLUSIONS: Disordered eating is a serious and relevant problem in OW/OB children living in rural areas and may be indicative of impairments in emotional functioning. Early intervention may reduce the risk for eating disorders and associated negative sequelae.

Improving access to first-line treatment for pediatric obesity: Lessons from the dissemination of SmartMoves.

OBJECTIVE: The increasing prevalence of and inequities in childhood obesity demand improved access to effective treatment. The SmartMoves curriculum used in Bright Bodies, a proven-effective, intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment (IHBLT), was disseminated to ≥30 US sites from 2003 to 2018. We aimed to identify barriers to and facilitators of IHBLT implementation/sustainment. METHODS: We surveyed and interviewed key informants about experiences acquiring/implementing SmartMoves. In parallel, we analyzed and then integrated survey findings and themes from interviews using the constant comparative method. RESULTS: Participants from 16 sites (53%) completed surveys, and 12 participants at 10 sites completed interviews. The 11 sites (63%) that implemented SmartMoves varied in both use of training opportunities/materials and fidelity to program components. In interviews, demand for obesity programming, organizational priorities, and partnerships facilitated implementation. Seven sites discontinued SmartMoves prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding insecurity and insufficient staffing emerged as dominant barriers to implementation/sustainment discussed by all interviewees, and some also noted participants' competing demands and the program's fit with population as challenges. CONCLUSIONS: System- and organizational-level barriers impeded sustainment of an evidence-based IHBLT program. Adequate funding could enable sufficient staffing and training to promote fidelity to the intervention's core functions and adaptation to fit local populations/context.

Treating anxiety and depression in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is associated with higher rates of clinically significant anxiety and depression than in healthy populations. Psychosocial interventions targeting anxiety and depression in IBD have variable efficacy and disparate treatment approaches, making treatment recommendations difficult. The current study aimed to identify effective treatment components across psychosocial treatment approaches for anxiety and depression in IBD. DESIGN: A systematic review of psychosocial treatments for anxiety and depression in IBD was conducted. Based on the Distillation and Matching Model, treatments were coded and data aggregated by intervention components, or practice elements (PE), to elucidate replicable clinical techniques. MAIN OUTCOME: The percentage of studies utilizing a given PE was the primary outcome. MEASURES: Among all included studies, as well as among those finding favorable, significant effects on anxiety or depression, the percentage utilizing each PE and number of PEs utilized was determined. RESULTS: The most utilized PEs among included interventions were relaxation, IBD psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, distraction, and social skills. Examining only interventions with favorable differences on specified outcomes (HRQoL, Anxiety, Depression, and/or Coping) indicated that relaxation, education, cognitive restructuring, and mindfulness were most utilized. CONCLUSION: Implications for clinical practice are discussed, including the development and dissemination of treatment recommendations.

A biobehavioural and social-structural model of inflammation and executive function in pediatric chronic health conditions.

ABSTRACTEvidence indicates that pediatric chronic health conditions (CHCs) often impair executive functioning (EF) and impaired EF undermines pediatric CHC management. This bidirectional relationship likely occurs due to biobehavioural and social-structural factors that serve to maintain this feedback loop. Specifically, biobehavioural research suggests that inflammation may sustain a feedback loop that links together increased CHC severity, challenges with EF, and lower engagement in health promoting behaviours. Experiencing social and environmental inequity also maintains pressure on this feedback loop as experiencing inequities is associated with greater inflammation, increased CHC severity, as well as challenges with EF and engagement in health promoting behaviours. Amidst this growing body of research, a model of biobehavioural and social-structural factors that centres inflammation and EF is warranted to better identify individual and structural targets to ameliorate the effects of CHCs on children, families, and society at large. This paper proposes this model, reviews relevant literature, and delineates actionable research and clinical implications.

Executive function in individuals with clinically significant weight loss via behavioral intervention.

BACKGROUND: Executive function (EF) is associated with obesity development and self-management. Individuals who demonstrate or self-report poorer EF performance tend to have poorer short-term outcomes in obesity treatment. There may be distinct behavioral self-management strategies and EF domains related to initial weight loss as compared to weight loss maintenance. OBJECTIVE: To characterize EF in individuals who achieved clinically significant weight loss via behavioral intervention and examine potential differences in EF between those who maintained versus regained lost weight. METHODS: Participants who previously achieved ≥5% weight loss via lifestyle intervention were included (N = 44). "Maintainers" (n = 16) maintained this minimum level of weight loss for ≥1 year. "Regainers" (n = 28) regained some or all initially lost weight. Performance-based EF, intelligence quotient, health literacy, depression, anxiety, binge eating, demographics, and medical/weight history were assessed using a cross-sectional design. Descriptive statistics and age-, gender-, education-adjusted reference ranges were used to characterize EF. Analyses of covariance were conducted to examine EF differences between maintainers and regainers. RESULTS: The sample consisted primarily of females with obesity over age 50. Approximately half self-identified as African-American. Decision-making performance was better in maintainers than regainers (p = 0.003, partη2 = 0.19). There were no differences between maintainers and regainers in inhibitory control, verbal fluency, planning/organization, cognitive flexibility, or working memory (ps > 0.05, partη2s = 0.003-0.07). At least 75% of the sample demonstrated average-above average EF test performance, indicated by scaled scores ≥13 or t-scores > 60. CONCLUSIONS: Most individuals with obesity who achieved clinically significant weight loss via behavioral intervention had average to above average EF. Individuals who maintained (vs. regained) their lost weight performed better on tests of decision-making.

The Moderating Role of Body Dissatisfaction in the Relationship between ADHD Symptoms and Disordered Eating in Pediatric Overweight and Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Identifying factors linked to disordered eating in overweight and obesity (OV/OB) may provide a better understanding of youth at risk for disordered eating. This project examined whether ADHD symptoms and body dissatisfaction were associated with disordered eating. METHODS: ADHD symptoms, disordered eating, and body dissatisfaction were assessed in 220 youth ages 7-12 who were OV/OB. RESULTS: Multiple linear regressions showed that body dissatisfaction and ADHD symptoms were associated with disordered eating. DISCUSSION: Children with ADHD symptoms and OV/OB may be at greater risk for disordered eating when highly dissatisfied with their bodies. Healthcare providers should assess body image and disordered eating in youth with comorbid OV/OB and ADHD.