Increased plasma asprosin levels are associated with overeating and loss of control in drug-free bulimia nervosa.

PURPOSE: Abnormalities in appetite hormones have been implicated in bulimia nervosa (BN). Orexigenic hormone asprosin has been reported to be associated with food intake and weight gain, but no relevant studies have yet been reported in BN. This study investigated asprosin concentrations and their association with eating disorder symptoms in patients with BN. METHODS: This study recruited a total of 26 BN patients and 23 healthy controls (HC). Symptom severity for eating disorders, depression, and anxiety was determined by the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire 6.0, Beck Depression Inventory, Version 2, and Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively. In addition, the study employed sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassay technology to determine plasma asprosin and glucose concentrations in all participants. RESULTS: The results revealed that plasma asprosin concentrations were significantly higher in BN patients than in HC (P = 0.037), but the difference disappeared after adjusting for the covariate BMI (F = 2.685, P = 0.108). Correlation analysis showed that asprosin concentration was positively correlated with overeating (r = 0.451, P = 0.021) and eating loss of control (r = 0.483, P = 0.012) in BN patients. Linear regression analysis indicated that an increase in asprosin concentration was associated with an increase in the times of overeating (F = 6.303, P = 0.019, R2 = 0.208). Multiple linear regression showed that increases in asprosin concentration and BDI-II total score could explain the frequent eating loss of control (F = 5.766, P = 0.009, R2 = 0.334). CONCLUSIONS: The present study is the first report of plasma asprosin concentration in BN patients and found that overeating and eating loss of control increased with the increase of asprosin concentration. Additionally, asprosin level and degree of depression may explain the frequency of loss of control. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III: Evidence obtained from case-control studies.

Risk of eating disorders, changes in salivary cortisol concentrations and nutritional status of adolescents.

PURPOSE: The imposition of the thin body as an ideal of beauty and the changes that occur in adolescence lead to a constant concern with adolescents' body weight, putting them at risk for eating disorders. Thus, the study sought to investigate associations between eating disorders and salivary cortisol concentrations, nutritional status and depressive symptoms in female adolescents with bulimia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 1435 adolescents aged 10-19 years. The Bulimic Investigatory Test of Edinburgh (BITE) and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) questionnaires were used. A follow-up study was conducted from a random selection of female adolescents diagnosed with Bulimia Development and Well-Being Assessment-(DAWBA) to assess associations with salivary cortisol concentrations and nutritional status. RESULTS: The prevalence of body dissatisfaction among adolescents with symptoms of bulimia was 37%. There was a significant difference between salivary cortisol and bulimia (Risk Group = 0.33 ± 0.20 µg/100 ml, Diagnostic Group = 0.44 ± 0.21 µg/100 ml p = 0.040), and correlation positive between the risk of bulimia with symptoms of depression (0.355 p = 0.002) and with Body Mass Index (0.259 p = 0.028). High concentrations of salivary cortisol in bulimic adolescents may be associated with hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional status indicators cannot be used alone for the diagnosis of bulimia, since cortisol levels seem to be a reliable parameter in the identification of bulimia, provided they are used with other diagnostic criteria. LEVEL III: Evidence obtained from cross-sectional study.

Eating disorders: A neglected group of mental disorders in patients requesting aesthetic surgery.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of data concerning the prevalence of eating disorders in patients requesting aesthetic surgery in spite of a large body of literature on the psychopathology of these patients. This may mostly be due to insufficient diagnostic assessment instruments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of eating disorders and their comorbidities in patients undergoing aesthetic surgery. METHODS: The assessment of prevalence of the eating disorders as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder as well as other mental disorders was performed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV mental disorders (SCID), axis 1. RESULTS: 212 patients (198 females, 14 males), requesting different types of aesthetic surgery, were included in this study. Eating disorders had a current prevalence of 8.0% (17/212) and a lifetime prevalence of 11.3% (24/212). Anorexia nervosa was predominantly found in patients with breast augmentation [current: 7.4% (2/27); lifetime: 11.1% (3/27)] and rhinoplasty [6.3 (1/16); 12.6% (2/16)]. Bulimia nervosa dominated in patients with liposuction [10% (3/30); 13.3% (4/30)] and binge eating disorder in patients with abdominoplasty [current/lifetime: 10.8% (4/37)]. Levels of significance (p ≤ 0.002) were reached for prevalence of the eating disorders in above mentioned types of surgery, when compared to prevalence data of the general population (two proportion Z test for SPSS). CONCLUSION: Eating disorders are distributed according to a certain pattern in the different types of aesthetic surgery. Interestingly, the current prevalence of eating disorders (17/212) was comparable to that of body dysmorphic disorder (26/212).

Comportamiento clínico y enfoque terapéutico de los trastornos alimentarios en personas con diabetes mellitus tipo 1 / Clinical Behavior and Therapeutic Approach of Eating Disorders in People with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Introducción: El comportamiento clínico de la diabetes mellitus tipo 1 y el enfoque terapéutico de los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria se complejizan cuando estos coinciden en una misma persona. Objetivo: Describir algunos aspectos del comportamiento clínico y enfoque terapéutico de los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria en personas con diabetes mellitus tipo 1. Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda de literatura relevante sobre el tema en el primer semestre de 2019. Se utilizaron como buscadores de información científica a Pubmed y a Google Académico. Como criterios iniciales de elegibilidad, se evaluaron artículos de revisión, de investigación y páginas Web que, en general, tenían menos de 10 años de publicados, en idioma español, portugués e inglés, y que hicieran referencia específicamente al tema de estudio a través del título. Fueron excluidos los artículos que no cumplieron con estas condiciones. Esto permitió el estudio de 65 artículos, de los cuales 33 fueron referenciados. Conclusiones: El comportamiento clínico de los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 1 combina síntomas y signos propios de ambas dolencias. Ambas entidades nosológicas se deben prevenir, pesquisar, diagnosticar e intervenir desde los servicios de atención primaria de salud, a través de una perspectiva interdisciplinaria. El tratamiento endocrinológico, unido a la terapia individual, la psicoeducación relacionada con los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria, la terapia familiar y un plan de tratamiento integral para la salud mental son imprescindibles desde el primer nivel de atención(AU)

Introduction: The clinical behavior of type 1 diabetes mellitus and the therapeutic approach to eating disorders become more complex when they coincide in the same person. Objective: To describe some aspects of the clinical behavior and therapeutic approach of eating disorders in people with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Methods: A search of relevant literature on the subject was carried out in the first semester of 2019. We used, as search engines for scientific information, Pubmed and Google Scholar. As initial eligibility criteria, we evaluated review articles, research articles, and web pages which, in general, were published less than 10 years ago, in Spanish, Portuguese and English, and which made, in their titles, specific reference to the topic of the study. Articles that did not meet these conditions were excluded. This allowed the study of 65 articles, of which 33 were referenced. Conclusions: The clinical behavior of eating disorders in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus combines symptoms and signs typical of both conditions. Both nosological entities must be prevented, screened, diagnosed and intervened, starting in primary health care services, through an interdisciplinary perspective. Endocrinological treatment, together with individual therapy, eating disorders-related psychoeducation, family therapy, and a comprehensive treatment plan for mental health are essential, starting in the first level of care(AU)

Associations between physical activity and eating-disorder psychopathology among individuals categorised with binge-eating disorder and bulimia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: While physical activity (PA) is known to have positive effects on psychological and physical health, little is understood about the association between non-compensatory PA (ie, not compulsive or intended to control weight or shape) and psychopathology among individuals with eating-disorder features. The present study explored associations between non-compensatory PA and psychopathology among adults categorised with bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge-eating disorder (BED). We further explored the association between compensatory PA and psychopathology among those who engaged in that form of "purging." METHOD: Participants were recruited through Mechanical Turk, an online recruitment platform. Individuals categorised with core features of BED (N = 138) and BN (N = 138) completed measures of eating-disorder psychopathology (Eating Disorder Examination - Questionnaire [EDE-Q] and Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns - 5), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire - 2) and PA (both non-compensatory and compensatory, measured using the EDE-Q and Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire). RESULTS: Engagement in non-compensatory PA was associated with lower frequency of binge-eating episodes, lower overvaluation of shape/weight and lower dissatisfaction with shape/weight (Ps < .05). Engagement in compensatory PA was related to greater frequency of binge-eating episodes and greater restraint (Ps < .05). DISCUSSION: Non-compensatory PA was associated with lower eating-disorder psychopathology. This suggests that PA is an important, though understudied, health behaviour among persons with features of BED and BN. Future research should examine the potential role of non-compensatory PA in interventions for individuals with core features of these eating disorders.

[Validation of the French version of the Binge Eating Scale: Examination of its factor structure, internal consistency and construct validity in a non-clinical and a clinical population]. / Validation de la version française de la Binge Eating Scale : étude de sa structure factorielle, de sa consistance interne et de sa validité de construit en population clinique et non clinique.

OBJECTIVE: The Binge Eating Scale is a widely used scale to assess binge eating disorder in obese patients. Until now, this scale has not been validated on a French population, and no psychometrically sound tool assesses binge eating disorder in the French. This study aimed to test the psychometric properties of a French version of the Binge Eating Scale by establishing its factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity in both a non-clinical population and a clinical population (obese patients who are candidates for bariatric surgery). METHODS: A total of 553 non-clinical subjects and 63 morbidly obese patients who were candidates for bariatric surgery were assessed with the BES and the Bulimic Investigatory Test, Edinburgh or BITE (which assesses both binge eating behaviours and use of inappropriate compensatory behaviours). We tested the factor structure of the instrument, its internal consistency, its construct validity with measures of binge eating, and its construct validity with measures of inappropriate compensatory behaviours to avoid weight gain. In 47 out of the 63 obese patients, we assessed binge eating disorder (SCID). RESULTS: In the non-clinical population, the BES had a one-factor structure (which accounted for 61% of the variance), excellent internal consistency (α=0.93), and high construct validity with measures of binge eating. In this population, construct validity with measures of inappropriate compensatory behaviours was confirmed in overweight and obese subjects (P=0.42), but not in underweight and optimal weight subjects (P<0.001). In obese patients candidates for bariatric surgery, we demonstrated that the BES had a one-factor structure (which accounted for 46% of the variance), had high internal consistency (α=0.88) and high construct validity with measures of binge eating and good construct validity with measures of inappropriate compensatory behaviours to avoid weight gain. In the subpopulation of 47 obese patients, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were respectively 75%, 88.4%, 37.5% and 97.4% (BES threshold=18). DISCUSSION: In this study, we validated a psychometrically sound French version of the Binge Eating Scale, both in a non-clinical and a clinical sample. The psychometric properties of the French version of the BES are comparable to its original version with a one-factor structure. The BES is a useful tool to assess binge eating disorder in obese patients (e.g., bariatric surgery candidates), but might not differentiate between binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa in underweight and optimal weight subjects.

The difficulty in defining binge eating in obese women: how it affects prevalence levels in presurgical bariatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to determine how increasing the specificity of binge eating criteria affects the prevalence of self-reported binge eating among presurgical bariatric patients. METHOD: 197 women ages 20 to 65 being assessed for bariatric surgery with a BMI greater than 30kg/m(2) were interviewed and completed the Eating and Exercise Examination. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported binge eating was 55% (n=109). The addition of the criterion 'more than a little loss of control/distress' reduced the rate to 23% (n=45), a minimum of six servings of food reduced the rate to 34% (n=67). The addition of a minimum frequency of twice per week for six months (DSM-VI) reduced the rate to 22% (n=43), or once per week for three months (DSM-5) reduced the rate to 53% (n=104). DISCUSSION: More precise definitions and diagnostic criteria for binge eating may result in more consistent reports of prevalence levels of BED.

Facets of impulsivity interactively predict body fat and binge eating in young women.

Impulsivity has been positively linked to overeating and obesity, but findings are inconsistent. Studies using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) show that measures of overeating appear to be most consistently associated with scores on the subscale attentional impulsivity in both non-clinical and clinical samples. Additionally, individuals with binge-eating behaviors may have elevated scores on the subscale motor impulsivity. In the current study, young women (N = 133) completed the short form of the BIS (BIS-15), the Eating Disorder Examination - Questionnaire, and height, weight and body composition were measured. Regression analyses showed that attentional and motor impulsivity positively predicted binge eating and general eating pathology, while non-planning impulsivity negatively predicted these variables. Moreover, attentional and motor impulsivity interactively predicted percent body fat, and the number of subjective and objective binge episodes. Results show that only specific aspects of trait impulsivity (attentional and motor impulsivity) are positively associated with body mass and binge eating. Non-planning impulsivity appears to be unrelated or even inversely related to those variables, at least in female students. Elevated levels of attentional impulsivity in conjunction with high motor impulsivity may be a risk factor for overweight and clinically relevant binge eating.

Post-operative psychosocial predictors of outcome in bariatric surgery.

Although there are several recent reviews of the pre-operative factors that influence treatment outcome for bariatric surgery, commensurate efforts to identify and review the predictive validity of post-operative variables are lacking. This review describes the post-operative psychosocial predictors of weight loss in bariatric surgery. Results suggest empirical support for post-operative binge eating, uncontrolled eating/grazing, and presence of a depressive disorder as negative predictors of weight loss outcomes; whereas, adherence to dietary and physical activity guidelines emerged as positive predictors of weight loss. With the exception of depression, psychological comorbidities were not consistently associated with weight loss outcomes. Results highlight the need for post-operative assessment of disordered eating and depressive disorder, further research on the predictive value of post-operative psychosocial factors, and development of targeted interventions.

Características sociodemográficas, alterações orais e prevalência da Candida spp em pacientes com transtornos alimentares / Sociodemographic characteristics, oral status and prevalence of Candida spp in patients of eating disorders

As alterações orais nos pacientes com transtornos alimentares (TAs) são estudadas na literatura, porém poucos artigos abrangem a relação entre as alterações orais, candidose bucal e avaliação sociodemográfica. O presente estudo avaliou as características sociodemográficas, orais e a prevalência de Candida spp em pacientes com TAs. Foram avaliados 14 pacientes, destes 6 possuíam o diagnóstico estabelecido de Anorexia purgativa, 7 de Bulimia Nervosa e 1 TANE (transtorno alimentar não especificado). A idade média dos pacientes do estudo foi de 30,7 anos e todos eram do sexo feminino. Os pacientes responderam a um questionário elaborado pela pesquisadora e em seguida foram submetidos ao exame clínico inicial, para avaliação geral da saúde bucal, com enfoque na presença de lesões de mucosa, cáries, erosões e candidose. Também foi coletado saliva para a avaliação do fluxo salivar. As seguintes características sociodemográficas foram encontradas: 28,4% exerciam atividade remunerada; 42,8% possuíam terceiro grau completo e 78,6% eram solteiras; o tempo médio do transtorno alimentar foi de 14,8 anos e o tempo de diagnóstico médico foi de 8,07 anos. Na avaliação odontológica foram encontrados: CPO-d (dentes-cariados, perdidos e obturados) médio de 10,57; IHOS (índice de higiene oral) médio de 1,3; 71,4% das pacientes possuíam perda de brilho na face palatina dos dentes e 14,2% apresentaram perimólise. As pacientes purgativas apresentaram um índice CPO-d maior que as pacientes restritivas, a classe social mais prevalente foi a classe média. A Candida spp foi mais isolada em pacientes do serviço público e a xerostomia não foi um fator predisponente à colonização de Candida spp. A perimólise teve relação com o tempo de TAs das pacientes. Os resultados obtidos demonstram a necessidade de acompanhamento odontológico regular em pacientes com TAs.

The oral changes in patients with eating disorders (ED) are studied in literature, but few articles disclose the connection between oral changes, oral candidiasis and sociodemographic characteristics. This study evaluated the sociodemographic characteristics, oral changes and the prevalence of Candida spp. Fourteen patients were evaluated. Six subjects were diagnosed with Anorexia (purging subtype), seven with Bulimia and one with EDNOS (eating disorders no specified). Every subject included was female with a mean age of 30,7 years. All of them answered a questionnaire and passed through a clinical exam to evaluate the oral health focusing on oral lesions, erosion, decayed and candidiasis. Saliva was collected for analysis. The social demographics characteristics were observed 28.4% of subjects exercise a paid activity, 42.8% had college degree and 78.5% were single. The mean time of ED was 14.8 years and mean time of medical diagnosis was 8.07 years. The clinical exam revealed the following data: DMFT mean of 10.57; Plaque index (oral hygiene) mean of 1.3; 71.4% of subjects showed tooth wear in enamel on palatine surface and 14,2%, perimolysis. This results suggest that patients with purging habits had higher DMFT than restrictive patients, the social class can be a predisposing factor for ED, the local where treatment was done influenced in isolation of Candida spp; and xerostomia did not influence in colonization of the fungus. The perimolysis presented relation with time of manifestation ED. This results showed the importance of concomitant treatment with dentistry.

Associations between child emotional eating and general parenting style, feeding practices, and parent psychopathology.

Emotional eating is the tendency to eat in response to negative emotions. Prior research has identified a relationship between parenting style and child emotional eating, but this has not been examined in clinical samples. Furthermore, the relationship between specific parenting practices (e.g., parent feeding practices) and child emotional eating has not yet been investigated. The current study examined relationships between child emotional eating and both general and specific parenting constructs as well as maternal symptoms of depression and binge eating among a treatment-seeking sample of overweight children. Participants included 106 mother-child dyads who attended a baseline assessment for enrollment in a behavioral intervention for overeating. Ages of children ranged from 8 to 12 years old. Mothers completed self-report measures of their child's emotional eating behavior, their own feeding practices, and symptoms of depression and binge eating. Children completed a self-report measure of their mothers' general parenting style. A stepwise regression analysis was conducted to identify the parent variable that was most strongly related to child emotional eating, controlling for child age and gender. Emotional feeding behavior (i.e., a tendency to offer food to soothe a child's negative emotions) was the parent factor most significantly related to child emotional eating. Findings suggest that emotional feeding practices in parents may be related to emotional eating in children. Treatment with overweight children who engage in emotional eating may be improved by targeting parent feeding practices.

Severe and prolonged hypophosphatemia after intravenous iron administration in a malnourished patient.

Malnutrition may result in a phosphate-deficient state owing to a chronically insufficient phosphate intake. Concomitant iron deficiency is common and often supplemented by the intravenous route. It is not widely recognized that some parenteral iron formulations can induce hypophosphatemia. Herein we report a case of a severe and symptomatic hypophosphatemia (0.18 mM, normal range 0.8-1.4 mM) associated with an inappropriately reduced tubular reabsorption of phosphate (33%, norm >95%) in a malnourished patient with anorexia/bulimia who received 2 × 500 mg iron carboxymaltose (FCM) intravenously. Despite intravenous and oral phosphate supplements, it required 2 months to achieve a normal serum phosphate level. Our case demonstrates that in a chronically malnourished and phosphate-deficient state intravenous FCM could potentially be dangerous. If this form of iron application cannot be avoided, phosphate supplementation before and after iron infusion as well as close monitoring of phosphate levels are needed.

Validation of the Yale Food Addiction Scale among a weight-loss surgery population.

The Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), recently validated in college students and binge eaters, is a means to assess "food addiction" in accordance with DSM-IV criteria for substance dependence. Using online survey methodology, we aimed to validate the use of the YFAS among weight loss surgery (WLS) patients. Participants completed measures about pre-WLS food addiction (YFAS), emotional and binge eating, behavioral activation and inhibition, and pre- and post-WLS substance use. A sample of 67 WLS patients (59.7% Roux-en-Y) was recruited; participants were 62.7% female, 86.6% Caucasian, had a mean age of 42.7; and 53.7% met the criteria for pre-WLS food addiction. Convergent validity was found between the YFAS and measures of emotional eating (r=.368, p<.05) and binge eating (r=.469, p<.05). Discriminant validity was supported in that problematic substance use, behavioral activation, and behavioral inhibition were not associated with YFAS scores. Incremental validity was supported in that the YFAS explained a significant proportion of additional variance in binge eating scores, beyond that predicted by emotional eating (EES) and disordered eating behavior (EAT-26). Those meeting the food addiction criteria had poorer percent total weight loss outcomes (32% vs. 27%). There was a nonsignificant trend towards those with higher food addiction being more likely to admit to post-WLS problematic substance use (i.e., potential "addiction transfer"; 53% vs. 39%). Results support the use of the YFAS as a valid measure of food addiction among WLS patients. Future research with a larger sample may shed light on potentially important relationships between pre-surgical food addiction and both weight and substance use outcomes.

Factor structure and predictive utility of the Binge Eating Scale in bariatric surgery candidates.

BACKGROUND: Screening for binge eating before bariatric surgery is a component of the recommended clinical practice for bariatric surgery candidates. The Binge Eating Scale (BES) is 1 of the most commonly used self-report measures of eating behaviors in preoperative evaluations; however, the factor structure of this measure has not been evaluated in the bariatric population. The aims of the present study were to report the mean, standard deviation, and reliability of the BES for patients seeking bariatric surgery; to evaluate the 2-factor structure of the BES using confirmatory factor analysis; and to investigate the association between the BES and its factors with surgical weight loss. The setting was an academic medical center. METHODS: A total of 530 patients completed the BES as a component of their psychological evaluation before undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. RESULTS: Approximately one third of patients reported at least mild to moderate binge eating, with 9% of patients reporting severe binge eating on the BES. The BES demonstrated good internal consistency. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a 2-factor structure, consisting of feelings/cognitions related to binge eating and behavioral manifestations of binge eating, was the best fit to the data. Nonsignificant correlations were found between the BES and its 2 factors with short-term postoperative weight loss. CONCLUSION: The BES measures 2 aspects of binge eating in bariatric surgery candidates, feelings/cognitions and behavioral manifestations of binge eating. Consideration of these factors in patients presenting for bariatric surgery could allow for a more detailed understanding of binge eating in this population.

Eating regulation and bulimic symptoms: the differential correlates of health-focused and appearance-focused eating regulation.

Based on Self-Determination Theory, this study aimed to gain further insight in the pathway from eating regulation to bulimic symptoms by (a) examining diet-specific need frustration as an intervening mechanism, (b) investigating the associations between different types of goals underlying eating regulation and diet-specific need frustration and bulimic symptoms, and (c) considering body dissatisfaction as an antecedent of eating regulation and eating regulation goals. In a sample of 244 female adolescents, SEM analyses showed that (a) the association between eating regulation and bulimic symptoms can be accounted for by need frustration, (b) appearance-focused and health-focused eating regulation are associated differentially with need frustration and bulimic symptoms, and (c) body dissatisfaction is related positively to eating regulation and appearance-focused eating regulation. These findings suggest that the goals underlying one's eating regulation and the concept of need frustration help to understand when and why eating regulation is associated with bulimic symptoms.

Eating habits, physical activity, consumption of substances and eating disorders in adolescents.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences between adolescents with a high or low risk of developing an eating disorder (ED) in different health behaviors (eating habits, physical activity and the consumption of substances) per gender. The EAT-40 and the Inventory of Behavioral Health in Scholars were applied to 2142 middle school students from Alicante (Spain), of whom 52.8% were girls and 47.2% were boys, with an average age of 13.92 years old (Sd = 1.34). Results indicated that girls with a high risk of developing an ED consumed fewer meals, ate fewer unhealthy foods, followed more diets and paid more attention to nutritional components. Furthermore, they also performed more physical activity with the objective of losing weight, and consumed more tobacco, alcohol and medicines. Boys at high risk of developing an ED followed more diets and paid more attention to nutritional components. For boys, no more differences were found. These results suggest that any program directed at the prevention of ED should not only include nutritional education, but should also seek to promote regular physical activity with objectives other than weight loss or the burning of calories.

Emotional Eating Scale for children and adolescents: psychometric characteristics in a Spanish sample.

The aims of this study were to validate the Emotional Eating Scale version for children (EES-C) in a Spanish population and study the differences in emotional eating among children with binge eating (BE), overeating (OE), and no episodes of disordered eating (NED). The questionnaire was completed by 199 children aged 9 to 16 years. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed five scales: eating in response to anger, anxiety, restlessness, helplessness, and depression. The EES-C showed good internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and it showed moderate relationships with measures of disordered-eating [Children's Eating Attitudes Test-26 (ChEAT-26), Questionnaire of Eating and Weight Patterns-Adolescent Version (QEWP-A)] and psychopathology (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, Children's Depression Inventory, Child Behavior Checklist). There were significant differences between the BE/NED groups (with the OE group in the middle position) in desire to eat when Anger (the girls in BE group, and the oldest children in OE group obtaining higher scores) or Helplessness were present. Eating due to Depression was higher in the older groups. Multiple regression analysis conducted showed that anxiety-trait was the best predictor of emotional eating. Results support the potential utility of the EES-C in the study of emotional eating in children and its validity in the Spanish population.