Body Image and Eating Disturbances in Children: The Role of Self-Objectification

Self-objectification has been implicated in the development of body image disturbances and disordered eating among adults and adolescents. Empirical research exploring these associations among children is limited. Given body image and eating disturbances have been observed in a significant proportion of children, elucidating the factors associated with these disturbances among members of this population segment is important to informing prevention and intervention efforts. Accordingly, we cross-sectionally examined the association between self-objectification and body image and eating disturbances in 219 Australian 6- to 11-year-olds (57% classified as female children; average age = 8.37 years, SD = 1.42). Significant associations were observed between measures of self-objectification and body surveillance; body surveillance and both body shame and weight/shape concern; and weight/shape concern and dietary restraint. Results suggest early interventions targeting poor body image may need to address self-objectification, although further research is needed to firmly establish self-objectification as a risk factor for poor body image in children. Practitioners could utilize resources specifically developed for children, which encourage positive body esteem, build body confidence, support healthy relationships with food and exercise, and promote activities encouraging individuals to be attuned to how their bodies feel rather than how they look.

ANKK1/DRD2 gene Taq1A polymorphism (rs1800497) as a possible genetic marker of food-addiction-related eating disturbances in overweight patients

Controlling the epidemic of overweight and obesity is one of the major challenges to modern healthcare. One of the possible causes of overweight and obesity can be food addiction manifesting as overeating and other eating disturbances (ED).We conducted a cross-sectional study to test the association between addiction-related ANKK1/DRD2 gene Taq1A polymorphism (rs1800497) and ED in overweight patients. Overall, 527 outpatients (469 (89,0%) females, 58 (11,0%) males; mean ± SD: BMI — 35,8±7,3 kg/m2; age — 46,7±11,8 years) of European ancestry were included in the study. Eating Disorder Examination — Questionnaire (EDE-Q), Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) were used to assess the ED. We also used Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRDS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) and Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) to assess depressive, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disturbances respectively. DNA was extracted from blood samples and polymorphism rs1800497 was detected by RT-PCR.According to the dominant genetic model, carriers of minor T allele (“CT+TT” group) in contrast to wild-type allele homozygous patients (“CC” group) were younger (p=0,075) and demonstrated higher scores of EDE-Q (p=0,085) and emotional eating subscale of DEBQ (p=0,063). Moreover, among them the proportion of patients with high ED risk was significantly increased vs. CC group: 1) EAT-26 score: 15,2% vs. 9,0%, OR=1,82 (CI95% (1,054-3,134), p=0,03; 2) EDE-Q score: 46,6% vs. 37,5%, OR=1,45 (CI95% (1,015-2,072), p=0,041. BMI was correlated with emotional eating subscale of DEBQ score in “CT+TT” group only (ρs =0,199, p=0,004). Correlation analysis showed weaker connections between ED and affective disturbances in “CT+TT” group.Our results show that carriers of the addiction-related T allele of ANKK1/DRD2 gene Taq1A polymorphism comprise the at-risk group for eating disturbances in overweight individuals. This may support the role of food addiction in overweight and obesity.