Exploring relationships among appetitive traits, negative affect, and binge eating in adults with overweight or obesity

Ellen K Pasquale; David R Strong; Michael A Manzano; Dawn M Eichen; Carol B Peterson; Kerri N Boutelle

doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2024.101871

Exploring relationships among appetitive traits, negative affect, and binge eating in adults with overweight or obesity

Eat Behav. 2024 Mar 15:53:101871. doi: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2024.101871. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ellen K Pasquale¹, David R Strong², Michael A Manzano³, Dawn M Eichen⁴, Carol B Peterson⁵, Kerri N Boutelle⁶

Affiliations

¹ San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, 6363 Alvarado Court, Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92120, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Electronic address: ekpasquale@ucsd.edu.
² Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
³ San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, 6363 Alvarado Court, Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92120, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, F282/2A West 2450 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.

PMID: 38518632
DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2024.101871

Abstract

Binge eating (BE) is a significant public health concern due to its prevalence and impact on mental and physical health. While research has suggested both negative affect and appetitive traits are associated with BE, few studies have investigated these constructs concurrently. Structural equation modeling (SEM) evaluated relationships between negative affect, reward-related appetitive traits, and BE among 293 adults with overweight or obesity (OW/OB) seeking treatment for BE, overeating, and weight management (m age = 46.6; m body mass index[BMI] = 34.5; 81.2 % female; 20.1 % Latinx, 60.8 % White non-Latinx). BE was related to negative affect (β = 0.53; p < 0.01) and appetitive traits (β = 1.53; p < 0.001). Negative affect and appetitive traits were related to one another (r = 0.42; p < 0.001), and the full model accounted for 77 % of the variance in BE. In an exploratory follow-up analysis, multigroup SEM evaluated the above relationships in models stratified by sex. Exploratory findings demonstrated both negative affect and appetitive traits were related to BE across sex, particularly when examining BE cognitions and behaviors. However, relationships in men depended upon BE assessment tool. These findings highlight that both negative affect and appetitive traits are related to BE, and jointly may represent significant risk and maintenance factors, particularly in adults with OW/OB. Our findings also highlight the importance of future investigation of sex differences in BE and the potential impact of assessment method.

Keywords: Appetitive traits; Binge eating; Negative affect; Structural equation modeling.

Grants and funding

UL1 TR001442/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States