The Effects of Sex and Puberty on Food Cravings and Loss of Control eating Among Youth in the Natural Environment and Laboratory
Abstract
Food cravings are cross-sectionally and prospectively associated with increased food consumption and weight gain, irrespective of body mass index, among children and adults. Preliminary research suggests food cravings may also be linked to loss of control (LOC)-eating in adults, but research among youth is nascent. Biological and psychological changes during puberty may strengthen the link between food cravings and LOC-eating. As such, the current study utilized ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and laboratory test meal methodologies to compare the relationships between food cravings and LOC-eating in male and female youths and in youth at different pubertal stages. In the natural environment, momentary craving, hunger, and degree of LOC-eating were rated multiple times a day during a two-week EMA protocol. In the laboratory, youth rated food cravings prior to a test meal designed to simulate a LOC-eating episode. Immediately after, youth rated the degree to which they experienced LOC-eating during the meal. Participants sex and pubertal stage were determined during a physical exam (girls: breast Tanner staging, boys: testicular volume). EMA data were analyzed by generalized linear mixed models and test meal data were analyzed by multiple linear regressions. All analyses adjusted for hunger. Participants were 87 healthy males and females between the ages of 8 and 18 years (12.98 +/- 2.68 years, 58.6% female, 48.3% non-Hispanic White, 0.57 +/- 1.11 BMIz). Twelve subjects were in the pre-pubertal, 19 mid-pubertal, and 56 late-pubertal stage. Higher two-week average and momentary food cravings were related to greater LOC-eating severity in the natural environment (ps < .01), but these relationships did not differ by sex (ps = .10-.97).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 15, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1186125
Entities
People
- Megan N Parker
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences