scholarly journals The Melanocortin System behind the Dysfunctional Eating Behaviors

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3502
Author(s):  
Emanuela Micioni Di Bonaventura ◽  
Luca Botticelli ◽  
Daniele Tomassoni ◽  
Seyed Khosrow Tayebati ◽  
Maria Vittoria Micioni Di Bonaventura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binge Eating ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Food Reward ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Melanocortin System ◽  
Melanocortin 4 Receptor ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

The dysfunction of melanocortin signaling has been associated with obesity, given the important role in the regulation of energy homeostasis, food intake, satiety and body weight. In the hypothalamus, the melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) and melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) contribute to the stability of these processes, but MC3R and MC4R are also localized in the mesolimbic dopamine system, the region that responds to the reinforcing properties of highly palatable food (HPF) and where these two receptors seem to affect food reward and motivation. Loss of function of the MC4R, resulting from genetic mutations, leads to overeating in humans, but to date, a clear understanding of the underlying mechanisms and behaviors that promote overconsumption of caloric foods remains unknown. Moreover, the MC4R demonstrated to be a crucial modulator of the stress response, factor that is known to be strictly related to binge eating behavior. In this review, we will explore the preclinical and clinical studies, and the controversies regarding the involvement of melanocortin system in altered eating patterns, especially binge eating behavior, food reward and motivation.

scholarly journals Eating behaviors and weight loss outcomes in a 12-month randomized trial of diet and/or exercise intervention in postmenopausal women

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin Mason ◽  
Jean de Dieu Tapsoba ◽  
Catherine Duggan ◽  
Ching-Yun Wang ◽  
Catherine M. Alfano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Binge Eating ◽  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Emotional Eating ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Restrained Eating ◽  
Dietary Weight Loss ◽  
Uncontrolled Eating

Abstract Background Certain eating behaviors are common among women with obesity. Whether these behaviors influence outcomes in weight loss programs, and whether such programs affect eating behaviors, is unclear. Methods Our aim was to examine the effect of baseline eating behaviors on intervention adherence and weight among postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity, and to assess intervention effects on eating behaviors. Four hundred and 39 women (BMI ≥25 kg/m2) were randomized to 12 months of: i) dietary weight loss with a 10% weight loss goal (‘diet’; n = 118); ii) moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic exercise for 225 mins/week (‘exercise’; n = 117); iii) combined dietary weight loss and exercise (‘diet + exercise’; n = 117); or iv) no-lifestyle change control (n = 87). At baseline and 12 months, restrained eating, uncontrolled eating, emotional eating and binge eating were measured by questionnaire; weight and body composition were assessed. The mean change in eating behavior scores and weight between baseline and 12 months in the diet, exercise, and diet + exercise arms were each compared to controls using the generalized estimating equation (GEE) modification of linear regression adjusted for age, baseline BMI, and race/ethnicity. Results Baseline restrained eating was positively associated with change in total calories and calories from fat during the dietary intervention but not with other measures of adherence. Higher baseline restrained eating was associated with greater 12-month reductions in weight, waist circumference, body fat and lean mass. Women randomized to dietary intervention had significant reductions in binge eating (− 23.7%, p = 0.005 vs. control), uncontrolled eating (− 24.3%, p < 0.001 vs. control), and emotional eating (− 31.7%, p < 0.001 vs. control) scores, and a significant increase in restrained eating (+ 60.6%, p < 0.001 vs. control); women randomized to diet + exercise reported less uncontrolled eating (− 26.0%, p < 0.001 vs. control) and emotional eating (− 22.0%, p = 0.004 vs. control), and increased restrained eating (+ 41.4%, p < 0.001 vs. control). Women randomized to exercise alone had no significant change in eating behavior scores compared to controls. Conclusions A dietary weight loss intervention helped women modify eating behaviors. Future research should investigate optimal behavioral weight loss interventions for women with both disordered eating and obesity. Trial registration NCT00470119 (https://clinicaltrials.gov). Retrospectively registered May 7, 2007.

Abstract 14729: Weight Loss Reduces Atrial Fibrillation Inducibility and Burden in Severe Obesity Induced by Either High-Fat Diet or Genetic Hyperphagia in Mice

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleonora Savio-Galimberti ◽  
Prince Kannankeril ◽  
David Wasserman ◽  
Dawood Darbar
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Morbid Obesity ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Mc4r Gene ◽  
Melanocortin 4 Receptor

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained arrhythmia worldwide, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Obesity is increasingly recognized as an important risk factor to develop AF and heart disease with a diet rich in fats leading to morbid obesity. Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) gene is a critical regulator of energy homeostasis, and homozygous loss-of-function mutations cause hyperphagia and morbid obesity. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that obesity and its comorbidities can create a profibrillatory substrate for AF in high fat diet-induced obese (DIO) and MC4R knock-out (MC4R-KO) mice, and that this substrate can be reversed by weight loss. Methods: Transesophageal rapid pacing was performed using atrial burst pacing (cycle length: 50-15 ms, for 15 s) to determine AF inducibility (% of mice that develop AF) and AF burden (number of AF episodes and total AF duration/mouse) in lightly anesthesized normotensive mice (C57bl6 mice [LEAN], DIO, and MC4R-KO), with continuous ECG monitoring. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed to assess right (R) and left (L) atrial appendage (AA) sizes. Results: Atrial burst pacing induced AF in 91% of DIO and 100% of MC4R-KO vs. 50% of LEAN (P<0.01, N=8 mice/group). Compared to LEAN, both DIO and MC4R-KO exhibited greater number of inducible AF episodes (0.7±0.2 vs. 1.8±0.2 vs. 1.8±0.1, P<0.01, N=15 mice/group) with longer duration (17.9±3 vs. 196±22 vs. 244±34 s, P<0.0001, N=15 mice/group; Figure). Both DIO and MC4R-KO had greater LAA volumes as compared with LEAN (5.2±0.2 vs. 6.7±0.4 vs. 4.1±0.1 μl, P<0.01, N=8 mice/group). RAA volume was similar across groups. After 20% weight loss, both AF burden and LAA volumes were significantly reduced to those seen in LEAN (22±5 s, 4.5±0.1 μl, P<0.001, N=8 mice/group). Conclusions: High-fat diet or genetic hyperphagia-induced obesity increases LAA volume and creates a profibrillatory substrate for AF that can be reversed with weight loss.

scholarly journals Genetic and pharmacologic blockade of central melanocortin signaling attenuates cardiac cachexia in rodent models of heart failure

2010 ◽  
Vol 206 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarrad M Scarlett ◽  
Darren D Bowe ◽  
Xinxia Zhu ◽  
Ayesha K Batra ◽  
Wilmon F Grant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Fat Mass ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Sham Operation ◽  
Melanocortin System ◽  
Cardiac Cachexia ◽  
Melanocortin 4 Receptor ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Melanocortin Signaling ◽  
Agouti Related Protein

The central melanocortin system plays a key role in the regulation of food intake and energy homeostasis. We investigated whether genetic or pharmacologic blockade of central melanocortin signaling attenuates cardiac cachexia in mice and rats with heart failure. Permanent ligation of the left coronary artery (myocardial infarction (MI)) or sham operation was performed in wild-type (WT) or melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) knockout mice. Eight weeks after surgery, WT-Sham mice had significant increases in lean body mass (LBM; P<0.05) and fat mass (P<0.05), whereas WT-MI did not gain significant amounts of LBM or fat mass. Resting basal metabolic rate (BMR) was significantly lower in WT-Sham mice compared to WT-MI mice (P<0.001). In contrast, both MC4-Sham and MC4-MI mice gained significant amounts of LBM (P<0.05) and fat mass (P<0.05) over the study period. There was no significant difference in the BMR between MC4-Sham and MC4-MI mice. In the second experiment, rats received aortic bands or sham operations, and after recovery received i.c.v. injections of either artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) or the melanocortin antagonist agouti-related protein (AGRP) for 2 weeks. Banded rats receiving AGRP gained significant amount of LBM (P<0.05) and fat mass (P<0.05) over the treatment period, whereas banded rats receiving aCSF did not gain significant amounts of LBM or fat mass. These results demonstrated that genetic and pharmacologic blockade of melanocortin signaling attenuated the metabolic manifestations of cardiac cachexia in murine and rat models of heart failure.

scholarly journals Assessing the Role of Ghrelin and the Enzyme Ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT) System in Food Reward, Food Motivation, and Binge Eating Behavior

2021 ◽  
pp. 105847
Author(s):  
Emanuela Micioni Di Bonaventura ◽  
Luca Botticelli ◽  
Fabio Del Bello ◽  
Gianfabio Giorgioni ◽  
Alessandro Piergentili ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binge Eating ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Food Reward ◽  
Food Motivation

scholarly journals Relations Between Mood States and Eating Behavior During COVID-19 Pandemic in a Sample of Italian College Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Concetta De Pasquale ◽  
Federica Sciacca ◽  
Daniela Conti ◽  
Maria Luisa Pistorio ◽  
Zira Hichy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Binge Eating ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Mood States ◽  
Emotional States

The fear of contagion during the COVID-19 pandemic has been indicated as a relevant cause of psychological pathologies occurring in this period. Food represents a compensating experience, distracting from the experiences of uncertainty, fear and despair, causing alterations in eating habits and behaviors. The study aims at evaluating the relations between fear of a pandemic, mood states and eating disorders in Italian college students, taking into account gender differences. During the lockdown for the pandemic, a sample of 469 college students equally distributed by gender, was recruited online using a questionnaire including the FCV-19S for the assessment of fear of COVID-19, the profile of mood states (POMS) for the evaluation of different emotional states, the eating disorder inventory-2 (EDI-2) and the binge eating scale (BES) to evaluate the presence of the levels of eating disorders. As expected, all emotive states measured by POMS (tension, depression, anger, tiredness, confusion) resulted significantly correlated with the fear of COVID-19. Women were more exposed to fear of COVID-19 showing greater tension, fatigue, depression and confusion, and a significantly higher total mood disturbance score than males. Regarding the EDI-2 and BES variables, tension and anxiety resulted significantly correlated also with bulimic behavior, while depression with interoceptive awareness, impulsivity, and binge eating behaviors, without gender differences. In conclusion, the negative impact of the fear of COVID-19 on the emotional profile and eating behavior suggests the need to implement strategies against psychological distress during the pandemic emergency, and to design psycho-educational interventions aimed at modifying the lifestyle for preventing risks of mental disorders fostering health-oriented behaviors.

Melanocortin-4 receptor gene variants are not associated with binge-eating behavior in nonobese patients with eating disorders

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Gamero-Villarroel ◽  
Raquel Rodriguez-Lopez ◽  
Mercedes Jimenez ◽  
Juan A. Carrillo ◽  
Angustias Garcia-Herraiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Binge Eating ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Gene Variants ◽  
Melanocortin 4 Receptor ◽  
Melanocortin 4 Receptor Gene ◽  
Nonobese Patients

scholarly journals Binge eating behavior in a sample of Lebanese Adolescents: Correlates and Binge Eating Scale validation

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Mina ◽  
Souheil Hallit ◽  
Radoslaw Rogoza ◽  
Sahar Obeid ◽  
Michel Soufia
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Binge Eating ◽  
Body Dissatisfaction ◽  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
English Summary ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Binge Eating Scale

Abstract Background Binge eating disorder is a common eating disorder among the adolescent population. The available literature in the Middle East in general, and Lebanon specifically, is relatively scarce and/or outdated. The objectives of this study were to (1) validate the Binge Eating Scale (BES) for use in Lebanese adolescents, and (2) assess correlates of binge eating behavior among this population. Methods A cross-sectional study conducted between May and June 2020, enrolling 555 adolescents between the ages of 15–18 years old from all Lebanese governorates. The Binge Eating Scale was used to screen for the presence/absence of binge eating. Results A confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the one-factorial model fits the data best. The results of a linear regression, taking the binge eating score as the dependent variable, showed that higher body dissatisfaction, more alcohol use disorder, higher depression, vomiting to lose weight and starving to lose weight were significantly associated with more binge eating. Higher self-esteem was significantly associated with less binge eating. Conclusion The Arabic Version of the BES scale seems to be a reliable tool to be used in Lebanese adolescents for the assessment of binge eating. More body dissatisfaction, lower self-esteem, increased depressive symptoms were associated with more binge eating. We hope this tool will be a reliable one to be used in epidemiological studies and research about eating behaviors/disorders. Plain English summary The results showed that higher body dissatisfaction, higher depression, vomiting to lose weight and starving to lose weight were significantly associated with more binge eating. Our study also showed that the Binge Eating Scale is an adapted and validated tool to be used among Lebanese adolescents for the assessment of binge eating. We hope that the study results will help clinicians in the screening and management of Binge Eating behaviors among Lebanese adolescents.

scholarly journals Chemerin: a multifaceted adipokine involved in metabolic disorders

2018 ◽  
Vol 238 (2) ◽  
pp. R79-R94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gisela Helfer ◽  
Qing-Feng Wu
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Metabolic Disorders ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Peripheral Tissues ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Metabolic syndrome is a global public health problem and predisposes individuals to obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Although the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated, accumulating evidence has uncovered a critical role of adipokines. Chemerin, encoded by the gene Rarres2, is a newly discovered adipokine involved in inflammation, adipogenesis, angiogenesis and energy metabolism. In humans, local and circulating levels of chemerin are positively correlated with BMI and obesity-related biomarkers. In this review, we discuss both peripheral and central roles of chemerin in regulating body metabolism. In general, chemerin is upregulated in obese and diabetic animals. Previous studies by gain or loss of function show an association of chemerin with adipogenesis, glucose homeostasis, food intake and body weight. In the brain, the hypothalamus integrates peripheral afferent signals including adipokines to regulate appetite and energy homeostasis. Chemerin increases food intake in seasonal animals by acting on hypothalamic stem cells, the tanycytes. In peripheral tissues, chemerin increases cell expansion, inflammation and angiogenesis in adipose tissue, collectively resulting in adiposity. While chemerin signalling enhances insulin secretion from pancreatic islets, contradictory results have been reported on how chemerin links to obesity and insulin resistance. Given the association of chemerin with obesity comorbidities in humans, advances in translational research targeting chemerin are expected to mitigate metabolic disorders. Together, the exciting findings gathered in the last decade clearly indicate a crucial multifaceted role for chemerin in the regulation of energy balance, making it a promising candidate for urgently needed pharmacological treatment strategies for obesity.

Trajectories of eating behavior during COVID-19 lockdown: Longitudinal analyses of 22,374 adults in the UK

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moritz Herle ◽  
Andrea Smith ◽  
Feifei Bu ◽  
Andrew Steptoe ◽  
Daisy Fancourt
Keyword(s):  
Eating Behavior ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Social Study ◽  
Multinomial Regression ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Trajectories Of Change ◽  
The Uk

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the implementation of stay-at-home and lockdown measures. It is currently unknown if the experience of lockdown leads to long term changes in individual’s eating behaviors.Objective: The objectives of this study were: i) to derive longitudinal trajectories of change in eating during UK lockdown, and ii) to identify risk factors associated with eating behavior trajectories. Design: Data from 22,374 UK adults from the UCL COVID-19 Social study (a panel study collecting weekly data during the pandemic) were analyzed from 28th March to 29th May 2020. Latent Class Growth Analysis was used to derive trajectories of change in eating. These were then associated with prior socio-economic, heath-related and psychological factors using multinomial regression models. Results: Analyses suggested five trajectories, with the majority (64%) showing no change in eating. In contrast, one trajectory was marked by persistently eating more, whereas another by persistently eating less. Overall, participants with greater depressive symptoms were more likely to report any change in eating. Loneliness was linked to persistently eating more (OR= 1.07), whereas being single or divorced, as well as stressful life events, were associated with consistently eating less (OR= 1.69). Overall, higher education status was linked to lower odds of changing eating behavior (OR= 0.54-0.77). Secondary exploratory analyses suggest that participants self-reported to have overweight were most common amongst the consistently overeaters, whereas underweight participants persistently ate less. Conclusion: In this study, we found that one third of the sample report changes in quantities eaten throughout the first UK lockdown period. Findings highlight the importance of adjusting public health programs to support eating behaviors in future lockdowns both in this and potential future pandemics. This is particularly important as part of on-going preventive efforts to prevent nutrition-related chronic diseases.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document