The Roles of Depression and Binge Eating in the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Obesity

Psychological differences in food addiction and binge eating in a general Polish population

The aim of the study was to identify the prevalence of food addiction (FA) and binge eating (BE) in a general Polish population, to explore the differences between these constructs, and to examine psychological differences among FA, BE, and FA + BE groups. 2123 participants completed the questionnaires: Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0, Binge Eating Scale, The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, Life Events Checklist, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Short UPPS-P scale (impulsive traits), Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 items. 492 participants reported clinically significant symptoms of FA, BE, or both. Spearman's correlations, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed to examine the relationships between variables. The present study showed that FA and BE symptoms are common in the adult sample. The FA, BE and FA + BE groups had higher scores than the control group for all variables included in the study. The FA + BE group presented a significantly higher level of behavioral and emotional symptoms, followed by the FA and the BE group with less severity of symptoms. This study supports the hypothesis of food addiction as a similar construct to BE. FA is a broader concept than BE, but individuals experiencing both indicated the greatest functional difficulties.

Early life racial/ethnic discrimination effects on behavioral control and health outcomes in young adults

Early life trauma has been shown to facilitate habitual behavior, which may predispose individuals toward perpetuating maladaptive behaviors. However, previous investigations did not account for other traumatic childhood experiences like racial/ethnic discrimination exposure, nor have they examined the interaction of trauma and habits on real-world adverse outcomes. To examine these effects, we recruited 96 young adults (20.06 ± 1.89 years old) in a study probing early life racial/ethnic discrimination influences on habitual learning, and the conjunctive influences of early life discrimination and habit on disordered eating and substance use. To measure habit responses, participants completed a noise avoidance task during which they responded to abstract stimuli via associated keyboard presses to avoid an aversive screaming sound, after which they performed a devaluation test to measure avoidance habit responses. Participants then completed a series of questionnaires examining early life racial/ethnic discrimination exposure, disordered eating and substance use, and other psychological characteristics. Hierarchical regression results showed that certain early life discrimination subtypes, particularly threat/aggression experienced due to racial/ethnic background, significantly predicted habitual responding above and beyond the effects of psychological confounds. Additionally, overall early life discrimination exposure positively predicted binge eating, but no variables of interest predicted alcohol and drug use. These results expand on extant literature showing the negative impacts of childhood stressors on behavioral control and real-world outcomes.

Relationship of Genetic Polymorphisms and Microbial Composition with Binge Eating Disorder: A Systematic Review

Humans are the result of an evolutionary process, and because of this, many biological processes are interconnected with each other. The intestine-brain axis consists of an intricately connected neuronal-neuroendocrine circuit that regulates the sensation of hunger and satiety. Genetic variations and the consumption of unnatural diets (ultra-processed foods, high contents of sugars, etc.) can override this circuit and cause addiction to certain foods and/or the inability to feel satiety in certain situations. The patients who come to consultations (mainly psychology or nutrition) in an attempt to resolve this problem sometimes fail, which leads to them looking for new strategies based on biological predisposition. This investigation aims to evaluate the genetic studies regarding the microbiota carried out in the last 12 years in humans to try to determine which genes and microbes that have been recently studied are related to patients diagnosed with binge eating disorder or compulsive eating (presenting obesity or not). The protocol followed the PRISMA statement, and the following databases were searched from 2012 until the present day: PubMed, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, and Web of Science. Twenty-four international articles were analyzed, including cross-sectional or exploratory studies; five of them referred to the microbial composition, and in nineteen, the existence of genetic polymorphisms present in binge eating disorder or in compulsive eating could be observed: DRD2, OPRM1, COMT, MC4R, BNDF, FTO, SLC6A3, GHRL, CARTPT, MCHR2, and LRP11. Even though there is still much to investigate on the subject, it must be highlighted that, in the last 4 years, a two-fold increase has been observed in potential markers and in studies related to the matter, also highlighting the importance of different analyses in relation to psychosocial factors and their interaction with the genetic and microbial factors, for which research on the matter must be continued.

Mediating role of depressive symptoms in the association between adverse childhood experiences and asthma

BACKGROUND

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with asthma, but the role of depressive symptoms (DS) in this is poorly studied.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating effect of DS on ACEs and asthma.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

This study was a retrospective cohort study of participants from the China Longitudinal Study of Health and Retirement from 2011 to 2018. A total of 12,277 participants including 5942 males and 6335 females were involved in the study.

METHODS

DS were assessed using the 10-item short form of the Center for Epidemiological Research Depression Scale. Logistic regression adjusted for confounders was used to explore the relationship between ACEs with asthma. Mediating effect analysis was used to assess the role of DS in the relationship between ACEs and asthma.

RESULTS

The results of logistic regression showed that there were an association between ACEs and asthma. Mediating effect analysis revealed that among the 15 ACEs examined, DS had partial mediating effects on the association between asthma and 5 specific ACEs (feeling alone, peer bullied, self-reported health status, health limitation, and death of parents), and fully mediated the relationship between asthma and another 5 ACEs (death of siblings, childhood neighborhood safety, childhood neighborhood quality, physical abuse, and parents' mental health) (all p < .05).

CONCLUSION

ACEs are significantly associated with an increased risk of asthma, and DS play a mediating role in the relationship between ACEs and asthma.