Pub Date : 2026-02-10DOI: 10.1007/s40519-026-01819-7
Sophia T Gonzalez, Renae D Schmidt, Dikla Shmueli-Blumberg, Sara M St George, Rui Duan, Daniel J Feaster, Viviana E Horigian, Tulay Koru-Sengul
Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess body mass index (BMI) category as a predictor of substance craving in people with substance use disorder (SUD) participating in 5 clinical trials.
Methods: BMI was categorized into 4 groups: underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity. Craving assessments were harmonized to calculate comparable craving scores for each participant across trials. General linear mixed effects regression models were fit to final craving score where BMI was considered a main effect and clinical trials as a random effect while also controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants.
Results: 1,418 participants were included in the final sample. Participants were primarily male (68.97%), and mean age was 39.73 years (SD: 11.38). Obesity (β = 0.59; p = 0.73) and overweight (β = 1.65; p = 0.29) were not significantly associated with final craving score while controlling for covariates. Baseline depression, age, and concomitant SUD medications were significantly associated with final craving score.
Conclusions: Although results indicate participants with obesity and SUD do not experience significantly higher craving for substances, more research is needed to uncover how this varies across different patient populations. Future studies should seek to include more comprehensive measures of obesity and eating behaviors to assess how these may impact substance craving and other SUD treatment outcomes. Level of Evidence Level III (Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies).
目的:本研究的目的是评估身体质量指数(BMI)类别作为物质使用障碍(SUD)患者物质渴望的预测因子。方法:将BMI分为体重过轻、健康体重、超重和肥胖4组。对每个参与者的渴望评估进行了协调,以计算出可比较的渴望分数。一般线性混合效应回归模型适合于最终渴望评分,其中BMI被认为是主要影响,临床试验被认为是随机影响,同时也控制了参与者的人口统计学和临床特征。结果:1418名参与者被纳入最终样本。参与者主要为男性(68.97%),平均年龄为39.73岁(SD: 11.38)。在控制协变量后,肥胖(β = 0.59; p = 0.73)和超重(β = 1.65; p = 0.29)与最终渴望得分无显著相关。基线抑郁、年龄和伴随的SUD药物与最终渴望得分显著相关。结论:尽管结果表明肥胖和SUD的参与者对物质的渴望并没有明显增加,但需要更多的研究来揭示不同患者群体之间的差异。未来的研究应该寻求包括更全面的肥胖和饮食行为的测量,以评估它们如何影响物质渴望和其他SUD治疗结果。证据水平III级(证据来自设计良好的队列或病例对照分析研究)。
{"title":"Assessing the relationship between body mass index and substance craving among patients with substance use disorders.","authors":"Sophia T Gonzalez, Renae D Schmidt, Dikla Shmueli-Blumberg, Sara M St George, Rui Duan, Daniel J Feaster, Viviana E Horigian, Tulay Koru-Sengul","doi":"10.1007/s40519-026-01819-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-026-01819-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The aim of this study was to assess body mass index (BMI) category as a predictor of substance craving in people with substance use disorder (SUD) participating in 5 clinical trials.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>BMI was categorized into 4 groups: underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity. Craving assessments were harmonized to calculate comparable craving scores for each participant across trials. General linear mixed effects regression models were fit to final craving score where BMI was considered a main effect and clinical trials as a random effect while also controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>1,418 participants were included in the final sample. Participants were primarily male (68.97%), and mean age was 39.73 years (SD: 11.38). Obesity (β = 0.59; p = 0.73) and overweight (β = 1.65; p = 0.29) were not significantly associated with final craving score while controlling for covariates. Baseline depression, age, and concomitant SUD medications were significantly associated with final craving score.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although results indicate participants with obesity and SUD do not experience significantly higher craving for substances, more research is needed to uncover how this varies across different patient populations. Future studies should seek to include more comprehensive measures of obesity and eating behaviors to assess how these may impact substance craving and other SUD treatment outcomes. Level of Evidence Level III (Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies).</p>","PeriodicalId":11391,"journal":{"name":"Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146156473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1007/s40519-026-01821-z
Chenyi Ji, Zhijian Qin, Yucheng Yang, Yao Shen, Jie Gao, Fangrun Zhu, Fang Liu
Purpose: The relationship between dietary nutrient intake and metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) remains poorly understood. This study aimed to construct machine learning models to predict MHO based on dietary nutrient profiles and to identify the most influential nutrients contributing to this phenotype.
Methods: Data were derived from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2018. Forty-five dietary nutrients, along with demographic and lifestyle variables, were included in two predictive frameworks: a dietary-only model and a complete model. Feature preprocessing involved assessing mixture effects, removing multicollinear variables, addressing class imbalance, and selecting important predictors. Six machine learning algorithms-random forest (RF), light gradient-boosting machine, k-nearest neighbor, Naive Bayes, support vector machine, and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost)-were developed and benchmarked to compare performance. Model interpretability was examined using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) and Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations (LIME).
Results: A total of 8914 participants, including 475 classified as having MHO, were analyzed. The Random Forest model exhibited the best predictive performance in the complete model, achieving training and validation AUCs of 0.986 and 0.991, respectively. In contrast, XGBoost demonstrated superior performance in the dietary-only model, with AUCs of 0.971 and 0.988. SHAP and LIME analyses revealed that added vitamin B12, lycopene, caffeine, theobromine, and lutein/zeaxanthin were the strongest positive predictors in the complete model. When only dietary factors were considered, lycopene, lutein/zeaxanthin, magnesium, potassium, and selenium emerged as the most influential nutrients.
Conclusions: RF and XGBoost models provided the highest predictive accuracy for MHO using complete and dietary feature sets, respectively. The consistent findings from SHAP and LIME analyses emphasized lycopene and lutein/zeaxanthin as reliable and biologically relevant key predictors of metabolically healthy obesity.
Level of evidence: Level III, well-designed cohort or case-control analytic study.
{"title":"Prediction of metabolically healthy obesity based on dietary nutrients: a comparative analysis of six machine learning models with SHAP and LIME interpretation.","authors":"Chenyi Ji, Zhijian Qin, Yucheng Yang, Yao Shen, Jie Gao, Fangrun Zhu, Fang Liu","doi":"10.1007/s40519-026-01821-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-026-01821-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The relationship between dietary nutrient intake and metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) remains poorly understood. This study aimed to construct machine learning models to predict MHO based on dietary nutrient profiles and to identify the most influential nutrients contributing to this phenotype.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were derived from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2018. Forty-five dietary nutrients, along with demographic and lifestyle variables, were included in two predictive frameworks: a dietary-only model and a complete model. Feature preprocessing involved assessing mixture effects, removing multicollinear variables, addressing class imbalance, and selecting important predictors. Six machine learning algorithms-random forest (RF), light gradient-boosting machine, k-nearest neighbor, Naive Bayes, support vector machine, and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost)-were developed and benchmarked to compare performance. Model interpretability was examined using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) and Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations (LIME).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 8914 participants, including 475 classified as having MHO, were analyzed. The Random Forest model exhibited the best predictive performance in the complete model, achieving training and validation AUCs of 0.986 and 0.991, respectively. In contrast, XGBoost demonstrated superior performance in the dietary-only model, with AUCs of 0.971 and 0.988. SHAP and LIME analyses revealed that added vitamin B12, lycopene, caffeine, theobromine, and lutein/zeaxanthin were the strongest positive predictors in the complete model. When only dietary factors were considered, lycopene, lutein/zeaxanthin, magnesium, potassium, and selenium emerged as the most influential nutrients.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>RF and XGBoost models provided the highest predictive accuracy for MHO using complete and dietary feature sets, respectively. The consistent findings from SHAP and LIME analyses emphasized lycopene and lutein/zeaxanthin as reliable and biologically relevant key predictors of metabolically healthy obesity.</p><p><strong>Level of evidence: </strong>Level III, well-designed cohort or case-control analytic study.</p>","PeriodicalId":11391,"journal":{"name":"Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146141503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1007/s40519-025-01808-2
Muhammet Ali Çakır, Selma Fırat
Purpose: The growing use of social media has increased access to online health and nutrition information, which may influence individuals' eating behaviors. This study examined the relationship between digital healthy diet literacy, social media addiction, and eating behaviors among adults.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 554 adults aged 18-64 years in Kırklareli, Türkiye. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a Personal Information Form, the Social Media Addiction Scale (SESMEB), the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), and the Digital Healthy Diet Literacy Scale (DHDL). Anthropometric measurements were obtained by the researchers.
Results: The participants' mean age was 31.5 ± 10.4 years; 52% were female and 43.5% university graduates. SESMEB and BSMAS scores were higher among younger, single, and more educated individuals but lower among obese participants (p < 0.05). DHDL scores were higher in those with higher education, regular exercise, and sufficient income, but lower in obese participants (p < 0.05). Significant relationships were found between all scales and social media use characteristics (number of accounts, duration, importance of likes, participation in nutrition groups, and exposure to advertisements). Strong positive correlations were observed among SESMEB, BSMAS, and DHDL scores.
Conclusions: Social media addiction and digital healthy diet literacy are inter-related and may influence eating behaviors. Enhancing digital health and nutrition literacy may help reduce negative effects of social media and promote healthier eating habits.
Level of evidence: Level III, cross-sectional analytic study.
{"title":"Eating behaviors in the digital age: the role of social media and healthy diet literacy.","authors":"Muhammet Ali Çakır, Selma Fırat","doi":"10.1007/s40519-025-01808-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-025-01808-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The growing use of social media has increased access to online health and nutrition information, which may influence individuals' eating behaviors. This study examined the relationship between digital healthy diet literacy, social media addiction, and eating behaviors among adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 554 adults aged 18-64 years in Kırklareli, Türkiye. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a Personal Information Form, the Social Media Addiction Scale (SESMEB), the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), and the Digital Healthy Diet Literacy Scale (DHDL). Anthropometric measurements were obtained by the researchers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The participants' mean age was 31.5 ± 10.4 years; 52% were female and 43.5% university graduates. SESMEB and BSMAS scores were higher among younger, single, and more educated individuals but lower among obese participants (p < 0.05). DHDL scores were higher in those with higher education, regular exercise, and sufficient income, but lower in obese participants (p < 0.05). Significant relationships were found between all scales and social media use characteristics (number of accounts, duration, importance of likes, participation in nutrition groups, and exposure to advertisements). Strong positive correlations were observed among SESMEB, BSMAS, and DHDL scores.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Social media addiction and digital healthy diet literacy are inter-related and may influence eating behaviors. Enhancing digital health and nutrition literacy may help reduce negative effects of social media and promote healthier eating habits.</p><p><strong>Level of evidence: </strong>Level III, cross-sectional analytic study.</p>","PeriodicalId":11391,"journal":{"name":"Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146084914","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1007/s40519-026-01815-x
Quentin Hallez, Claire El-Jor, Rebecca Shankland
This study employed a network analysis approach to model the complex interplay of risk and protective factors for body image dissatisfaction in young French women, with the objective of mapping the psychological system connecting these variables and identifying the most central factors. A sample of 233 female students completed an online questionnaire assessing 11 constructs, including risk factors like perfectionism, thin-ideal internalization, appearance comparison, and weight stigma, alongside protective factors such as self-compassion, intuitive eating, and body appreciation. This study also presents the first psychometric validation of the Physical Appearance Related Teasing Scale (PARTS) in the French language. A Gaussian Graphical Model (GGM) network analysis revealed that body dissatisfaction (BSQ-8C) has the highest strength and betweenness centrality, confirming its role as the core hub in the model's architecture and underscoring the relevance of the chosen variables for this study. The network showed strong direct positive links to body dissatisfaction from weight stigma (WSSQ) and appearance comparison (PACS-5), and strong negative links from the protective factors of body appreciation (BAS-2) and intuitive eating (IES-2). Weight-related teasing (PARTS) was established as a significant secondary risk factor through its robust connection with weight stigma. Sociocultural pressures (SATAQ-3) were identified as a critical bridging node, while variables such as self-compassion, social media use, and perfectionism occupied peripheral positions. This research advocates for a targeted, multi-component approach that actively works to dismantle the pillars of weight stigma and comparison while simultaneously building the distinct foundations of body appreciation and intuitive eating.Level of evidence; Level V, descriptive studiesOur manuscript describes a cross-sectional design that uses a network analysis approach to map the existing correlations between variables. As this methodology is a descriptive study and does not involve an intervention (ruling out Levels I & II) or a longitudinal/case-control design (ruling out Level III), it aligns with the journal's criteria for Level V.
{"title":"A network analysis of risk and protective factors for body image in young adult women.","authors":"Quentin Hallez, Claire El-Jor, Rebecca Shankland","doi":"10.1007/s40519-026-01815-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-026-01815-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study employed a network analysis approach to model the complex interplay of risk and protective factors for body image dissatisfaction in young French women, with the objective of mapping the psychological system connecting these variables and identifying the most central factors. A sample of 233 female students completed an online questionnaire assessing 11 constructs, including risk factors like perfectionism, thin-ideal internalization, appearance comparison, and weight stigma, alongside protective factors such as self-compassion, intuitive eating, and body appreciation. This study also presents the first psychometric validation of the Physical Appearance Related Teasing Scale (PARTS) in the French language. A Gaussian Graphical Model (GGM) network analysis revealed that body dissatisfaction (BSQ-8C) has the highest strength and betweenness centrality, confirming its role as the core hub in the model's architecture and underscoring the relevance of the chosen variables for this study. The network showed strong direct positive links to body dissatisfaction from weight stigma (WSSQ) and appearance comparison (PACS-5), and strong negative links from the protective factors of body appreciation (BAS-2) and intuitive eating (IES-2). Weight-related teasing (PARTS) was established as a significant secondary risk factor through its robust connection with weight stigma. Sociocultural pressures (SATAQ-3) were identified as a critical bridging node, while variables such as self-compassion, social media use, and perfectionism occupied peripheral positions. This research advocates for a targeted, multi-component approach that actively works to dismantle the pillars of weight stigma and comparison while simultaneously building the distinct foundations of body appreciation and intuitive eating.Level of evidence; Level V, descriptive studiesOur manuscript describes a cross-sectional design that uses a network analysis approach to map the existing correlations between variables. As this methodology is a descriptive study and does not involve an intervention (ruling out Levels I & II) or a longitudinal/case-control design (ruling out Level III), it aligns with the journal's criteria for Level V.</p>","PeriodicalId":11391,"journal":{"name":"Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146050902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Purpose: People living with obesity are susceptible to weight gain during periods of extreme stress. Identifying modifiable risk factors is crucial in regions affected by frequent conflict.
Methods: We therefore sent a survey to patients followed in a weight management clinic shortly after the 2023 onset of the Israel-Hamas war.
Results: Responses (n = 285) were collected for analysis a median of 58 days (IQR 48-58) after the conflict erupted and compared between subjects who did and did not experience acute, significant weight gain (≥ 3%). Median age was 57 (IQR 46-67) and 66.5% were female. Baseline median BMI was 33.2 kg/m2 (IQR 29.8-39.0), and 67.6% were taking anti-obesity medications (AOMs). Roughly two-thirds reported reduced sleep quality and increased stress or anxiety. Approximately half reported both reduced exercise and more anxiety-driven eating, whereas roughly 40% reported consuming more sweets or snacks, and these behaviors were associated with significant weight gain, experienced by 25.4% of respondents. According to multivariate analysis, anxiety-driven eating and less exercise were associated with weight gain (OR 4.48, p < 0.001 and OR = 2.50, p = 0.020, respectively), whereas AOMs were protective (OR = 0.39, p = 0.015).
Conclusion: Given that one quarter of subjects with overweight or obesity reported significant weight gain within two months of the outbreak of war, and that we identified modifiable risk factors, emphasis must be placed on maintaining healthy exercise and eating behaviors with consideration of AOMs. Level of evidence IV- cross-sectional retrospective study.
{"title":"Determinants of acute weight gain during regional conflict among individuals with overweight and obesity receiving targeted multidisciplinary care.","authors":"Noga Minsky, Hanni Robinson, Noa Alon, Orly Tamir, Ronit Endevelt, Gabriella Segal-Lieberman","doi":"10.1007/s40519-026-01816-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40519-026-01816-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>People living with obesity are susceptible to weight gain during periods of extreme stress. Identifying modifiable risk factors is crucial in regions affected by frequent conflict.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We therefore sent a survey to patients followed in a weight management clinic shortly after the 2023 onset of the Israel-Hamas war.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Responses (n = 285) were collected for analysis a median of 58 days (IQR 48-58) after the conflict erupted and compared between subjects who did and did not experience acute, significant weight gain (≥ 3%). Median age was 57 (IQR 46-67) and 66.5% were female. Baseline median BMI was 33.2 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (IQR 29.8-39.0), and 67.6% were taking anti-obesity medications (AOMs). Roughly two-thirds reported reduced sleep quality and increased stress or anxiety. Approximately half reported both reduced exercise and more anxiety-driven eating, whereas roughly 40% reported consuming more sweets or snacks, and these behaviors were associated with significant weight gain, experienced by 25.4% of respondents. According to multivariate analysis, anxiety-driven eating and less exercise were associated with weight gain (OR 4.48, p < 0.001 and OR = 2.50, p = 0.020, respectively), whereas AOMs were protective (OR = 0.39, p = 0.015).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Given that one quarter of subjects with overweight or obesity reported significant weight gain within two months of the outbreak of war, and that we identified modifiable risk factors, emphasis must be placed on maintaining healthy exercise and eating behaviors with consideration of AOMs. Level of evidence IV- cross-sectional retrospective study.</p>","PeriodicalId":11391,"journal":{"name":"Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity","volume":" ","pages":"7"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12861986/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146061030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1007/s40519-025-01811-7
Isabella Marini, Maria Bianca Muneghina, Alessia Bonavita, Raffaele Riccioni, Massimo Pasquini, Laura Piccardi
Background: Binge-eating disorder (BED) frequently co-occurs with dissociative symptoms and psychiatric comorbidities, yet potential neurological underpinnings remain underexplored.
Case presentation: We report an 18-year-old female with BED presenting with frequent binge episodes accompanied by memory lapses and altered consciousness. Initially attributed to dissociation, comprehensive evaluation revealed previously undiagnosed absence epilepsy, confirmed by EEG and neuroimaging. Neuropsychological assessment demonstrated significant impairments in working memory, processing speed, and divided attention. Treatment with lamotrigine (200 mg/day) resulted in complete remission of binges occurring during absence seizures and substantial cognitive improvements across multiple domains.
Conclusions: This case highlights the critical importance of neurological evaluation in eating disorder patients presenting with altered consciousness or memory lapses. The temporal relationship between seizures and binge episodes, coupled with treatment response, suggests potential neurobiological mechanisms linking epileptic activity to disinhibited eating behaviors. Clinicians should maintain heightened awareness of possible epilepsy-eating disorder comorbidity and consider integrated treatment approaches addressing both neurological and psychiatric components.
{"title":"Unaware and unrestrained: binge-eating behavior in epileptic absence seizures.","authors":"Isabella Marini, Maria Bianca Muneghina, Alessia Bonavita, Raffaele Riccioni, Massimo Pasquini, Laura Piccardi","doi":"10.1007/s40519-025-01811-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40519-025-01811-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Binge-eating disorder (BED) frequently co-occurs with dissociative symptoms and psychiatric comorbidities, yet potential neurological underpinnings remain underexplored.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>We report an 18-year-old female with BED presenting with frequent binge episodes accompanied by memory lapses and altered consciousness. Initially attributed to dissociation, comprehensive evaluation revealed previously undiagnosed absence epilepsy, confirmed by EEG and neuroimaging. Neuropsychological assessment demonstrated significant impairments in working memory, processing speed, and divided attention. Treatment with lamotrigine (200 mg/day) resulted in complete remission of binges occurring during absence seizures and substantial cognitive improvements across multiple domains.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This case highlights the critical importance of neurological evaluation in eating disorder patients presenting with altered consciousness or memory lapses. The temporal relationship between seizures and binge episodes, coupled with treatment response, suggests potential neurobiological mechanisms linking epileptic activity to disinhibited eating behaviors. Clinicians should maintain heightened awareness of possible epilepsy-eating disorder comorbidity and consider integrated treatment approaches addressing both neurological and psychiatric components.</p>","PeriodicalId":11391,"journal":{"name":"Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity","volume":" ","pages":"11"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12876115/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146028639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1007/s40519-026-01812-0
Zhiyi Guo, Muhizam Mustafa, Yueyue Ning
Non-communicable diseases have become a global public health challenge, with excessive intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) identified as a major dietary risk factor. To promote healthier consumption, front-of-package (FoP) nutrition labels has been widely implemented worldwide. Although China has not yet established a standardized FoP system, the Healthy China 2030 initiative demonstrates the government's willingness to implement FoP labeling strategies as part of its effort to improve nutrition literacy and encourage healthier food choices. However, limited research has explored how the visual design of FoP warning labels (WLs) affects consumer perception and behavioral intention. To address this gap, the present study employed a 2 × 2 between-subjects quasi-experiment among Chinese Generation Z consumers, manipulating color (black and red) and shape (octagon and shield) of WLs on SSBs. Three dependent variables were measured: perceived attractiveness, perceived healthfulness, and purchase intention. Results showed significant main and interaction effects across all outcomes: red-octagon WLs were most visually attractive, black-octagon WLs most effectively conveyed unhealthfulness, and black-shield WLs most strongly discouraged purchase intention. These findings demonstrate that color and shape jointly shape the perceptual and behavioral impact of FoP WLs. Theoretically, based on cue utilization theory and food label information processing models, this study conceptually explains how visual warning cues influence consumers' perceptions and purchase intentions, and provides practical insights for developing evidence-based FoP policies to reduce SSBs consumption in China.
{"title":"Color and shape matter: how visual design features of front-of-package warning labels influence attractiveness perception, healthfulness perception and purchase intention.","authors":"Zhiyi Guo, Muhizam Mustafa, Yueyue Ning","doi":"10.1007/s40519-026-01812-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-026-01812-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Non-communicable diseases have become a global public health challenge, with excessive intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) identified as a major dietary risk factor. To promote healthier consumption, front-of-package (FoP) nutrition labels has been widely implemented worldwide. Although China has not yet established a standardized FoP system, the Healthy China 2030 initiative demonstrates the government's willingness to implement FoP labeling strategies as part of its effort to improve nutrition literacy and encourage healthier food choices. However, limited research has explored how the visual design of FoP warning labels (WLs) affects consumer perception and behavioral intention. To address this gap, the present study employed a 2 × 2 between-subjects quasi-experiment among Chinese Generation Z consumers, manipulating color (black and red) and shape (octagon and shield) of WLs on SSBs. Three dependent variables were measured: perceived attractiveness, perceived healthfulness, and purchase intention. Results showed significant main and interaction effects across all outcomes: red-octagon WLs were most visually attractive, black-octagon WLs most effectively conveyed unhealthfulness, and black-shield WLs most strongly discouraged purchase intention. These findings demonstrate that color and shape jointly shape the perceptual and behavioral impact of FoP WLs. Theoretically, based on cue utilization theory and food label information processing models, this study conceptually explains how visual warning cues influence consumers' perceptions and purchase intentions, and provides practical insights for developing evidence-based FoP policies to reduce SSBs consumption in China.</p>","PeriodicalId":11391,"journal":{"name":"Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146009099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-16DOI: 10.1007/s40519-026-01817-9
Fabrizio Santoniccolo, Maria Noemi Paradiso, Tommaso Trombetta, Luca Rollè
Purpose: LGBTQ + people have shown health disparities compared to heterosexual and cisgender people in eating disorders. How these disparities are determined, however, is an understudied area. Through the use of a psychological mediation framework, this study aims to explore how daily heterosexist experiences related to one's LGBTQ + identity may determine eating disorder risk.
Methods: 376 LGBTQ + people from Italy responded to self-report questionnaires regarding daily heterosexist experiences, eating behaviors and associated factors in an online anonymous survey. Descriptive, bivariate and mediation analyses were conducted using the "PROCESS" macro, including distress scores for heterosexist experiences, emotion dysregulation, self-esteem, shame, and eating disorder risk, controlling for body-mass index, age and socioeconomic status.
Results: Statistically significant positive associations were found between distress related to heterosexist experiences, emotion dysregulation, shame and eating disorder risk. Mediation analyses found that the direct effect of heterosexist experiences on eating disorder risk was nonsignificant. The indirect effects of heterosexist experiences on eating disorder risk through emotion dysregulation (B = 0.041, β = 0.304, BootSE = 0.017, 95% CI [0.006, 0.078]) and low self-esteem (B = 0.092, β = 0.089, BootSE = 0.023, 95% CI [0.049, 0.145]) were significant. The indirect effect through shame was nonsignificant.
Conclusions: Heterosexist experiences seem to have significant indirect effects on eating disorder risk through emotion dysregulation and low self-esteem. Policies for reducing harassment, discrimination and violence related to sexual orientation and gender identity in institutional, organizational and social contexts may help prevent negative health outcomes in LGBT + people. Clinical contexts may benefit from considering the effects of minority stress.
Level of evidence: Level 3-Observational cross-sectional study.
{"title":"Bodies under stress-a psychological parallel mediation model between daily LGBTQ + heterosexism and eating disorder risk.","authors":"Fabrizio Santoniccolo, Maria Noemi Paradiso, Tommaso Trombetta, Luca Rollè","doi":"10.1007/s40519-026-01817-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40519-026-01817-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>LGBTQ + people have shown health disparities compared to heterosexual and cisgender people in eating disorders. How these disparities are determined, however, is an understudied area. Through the use of a psychological mediation framework, this study aims to explore how daily heterosexist experiences related to one's LGBTQ + identity may determine eating disorder risk.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>376 LGBTQ + people from Italy responded to self-report questionnaires regarding daily heterosexist experiences, eating behaviors and associated factors in an online anonymous survey. Descriptive, bivariate and mediation analyses were conducted using the \"PROCESS\" macro, including distress scores for heterosexist experiences, emotion dysregulation, self-esteem, shame, and eating disorder risk, controlling for body-mass index, age and socioeconomic status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Statistically significant positive associations were found between distress related to heterosexist experiences, emotion dysregulation, shame and eating disorder risk. Mediation analyses found that the direct effect of heterosexist experiences on eating disorder risk was nonsignificant. The indirect effects of heterosexist experiences on eating disorder risk through emotion dysregulation (B = 0.041, β = 0.304, BootSE = 0.017, 95% CI [0.006, 0.078]) and low self-esteem (B = 0.092, β = 0.089, BootSE = 0.023, 95% CI [0.049, 0.145]) were significant. The indirect effect through shame was nonsignificant.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Heterosexist experiences seem to have significant indirect effects on eating disorder risk through emotion dysregulation and low self-esteem. Policies for reducing harassment, discrimination and violence related to sexual orientation and gender identity in institutional, organizational and social contexts may help prevent negative health outcomes in LGBT + people. Clinical contexts may benefit from considering the effects of minority stress.</p><p><strong>Level of evidence: </strong>Level 3-Observational cross-sectional study.</p>","PeriodicalId":11391,"journal":{"name":"Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity","volume":" ","pages":"12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145988708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1007/s40519-026-01813-z
Rocco Barazzoni, Silvio Buscemi, Luca Busetto, Paolo Sbraccia, Simona Bo, Emanuele Cereda, Marco Chianelli, Sonja Chiappetta, Riccardo Dalle Grave, Walter de Caro, Giovanni Docimo, Giuseppe Galloro, Primiano Iannone, Frida Leonetti, Fabrizia Lisso, Maria Caterina Manca, Gerardo Medea, Manuela Merli, Anna Maria Moretti, Giuseppe Navarra, Uberto Pagotto, Barbara Paolini, Giovanni Papa, Nicola Perrotta, Andrea Pession, Vincenzo Pilone, Vincenzo Provenzano, Cecilia Ricciardi Rizzo, Maurizio Santomauro, Cristina Segura Garcia, Federico Spandonaro, Samir Sukkar, Patrizia Todisco, Dario Tuccinardi, Andrea Vania, Valentina Vanzi, Riccardo Williams, Iris Zani, Benedetta Ragghianti, Giovanni Antonio Silverii, Amanda Belluzzi, Maria Masulli, Maddalena Redini, Matteo Monami
Obesity is a chronic relapsing disease associated with increased morbidity and mortality and reduced quality of life. The present GRADE-based guidelines have been commissioned by the Italian Society of Obesity (SIO) by the Italian National Health Institute to provide evidence-based recommendations on obesity diagnosis and treatment. The panel identified 13 clinical questions, organised into four domains: A. diagnostic criteria (4 questions); B. medical nutrition therapy (4 questions); C. pharmacological, surgical, and endoscopic treatments (4 questions); and D. miscellaneous (1 question). The expert panel recommends adopting at least one anthropometric index of abdominal visceral fat distribution beyond body mass index (BMI) for better clinical risk stratification. A structured lifestyle intervention (i.e., medical-nutritional treatment-MNT), preferably based on cognitive-behavioural therapeutic approach and including physical activity and a balanced diet, should be offered to all subjects living with obesity. Pharmacological or surgical treatment should be offered in addition to MNT when MNT is unable to reach clinical goals. In particular, pharmacological treatment should be considered as the preferred option for subjects with BMI > 27 kg/m2 with comorbidities, and for those with BMI 30-39.9 kg/m2, based on individual therapeutic goals and needs, adopting surgical treatment in selected cases or in case of OMM failure to reach clinical goals. For subjects with a BMI > 40 kg/m2, surgical treatment may be considered conversely as a preferable option. Reduction of at least 10% of the initial body weight is associated with a better quality of life and a reduced risk of incident depression. The current guideline is endorsed by the Italian National Institute of Health, providing the new, updated clinical and legal reference for professionals involved in the management of subjects living with obesity in Italy.
{"title":"Italian clinical practice GRADE-based guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of overweight and obesity, endorsed by the Italian National Institute of Health.","authors":"Rocco Barazzoni, Silvio Buscemi, Luca Busetto, Paolo Sbraccia, Simona Bo, Emanuele Cereda, Marco Chianelli, Sonja Chiappetta, Riccardo Dalle Grave, Walter de Caro, Giovanni Docimo, Giuseppe Galloro, Primiano Iannone, Frida Leonetti, Fabrizia Lisso, Maria Caterina Manca, Gerardo Medea, Manuela Merli, Anna Maria Moretti, Giuseppe Navarra, Uberto Pagotto, Barbara Paolini, Giovanni Papa, Nicola Perrotta, Andrea Pession, Vincenzo Pilone, Vincenzo Provenzano, Cecilia Ricciardi Rizzo, Maurizio Santomauro, Cristina Segura Garcia, Federico Spandonaro, Samir Sukkar, Patrizia Todisco, Dario Tuccinardi, Andrea Vania, Valentina Vanzi, Riccardo Williams, Iris Zani, Benedetta Ragghianti, Giovanni Antonio Silverii, Amanda Belluzzi, Maria Masulli, Maddalena Redini, Matteo Monami","doi":"10.1007/s40519-026-01813-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40519-026-01813-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Obesity is a chronic relapsing disease associated with increased morbidity and mortality and reduced quality of life. The present GRADE-based guidelines have been commissioned by the Italian Society of Obesity (SIO) by the Italian National Health Institute to provide evidence-based recommendations on obesity diagnosis and treatment. The panel identified 13 clinical questions, organised into four domains: A. diagnostic criteria (4 questions); B. medical nutrition therapy (4 questions); C. pharmacological, surgical, and endoscopic treatments (4 questions); and D. miscellaneous (1 question). The expert panel recommends adopting at least one anthropometric index of abdominal visceral fat distribution beyond body mass index (BMI) for better clinical risk stratification. A structured lifestyle intervention (i.e., medical-nutritional treatment-MNT), preferably based on cognitive-behavioural therapeutic approach and including physical activity and a balanced diet, should be offered to all subjects living with obesity. Pharmacological or surgical treatment should be offered in addition to MNT when MNT is unable to reach clinical goals. In particular, pharmacological treatment should be considered as the preferred option for subjects with BMI > 27 kg/m<sup>2</sup> with comorbidities, and for those with BMI 30-39.9 kg/m<sup>2</sup>, based on individual therapeutic goals and needs, adopting surgical treatment in selected cases or in case of OMM failure to reach clinical goals. For subjects with a BMI > 40 kg/m<sup>2</sup>, surgical treatment may be considered conversely as a preferable option. Reduction of at least 10% of the initial body weight is associated with a better quality of life and a reduced risk of incident depression. The current guideline is endorsed by the Italian National Institute of Health, providing the new, updated clinical and legal reference for professionals involved in the management of subjects living with obesity in Italy.</p>","PeriodicalId":11391,"journal":{"name":"Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity","volume":" ","pages":"9"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12880997/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145965604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1007/s40519-025-01807-3
Lorenzo Casati, Tiziano Prodi, Anna Vedani, Camilla Gesi, Carmen Caruso, Anna Boggio, Bernardo Dell'Osso
Background: Several versions of the Nine-Item ARFID Screen (NIAS) have been developed in recent years to adapt the questionnaire to different languages and clinical samples. An Italian version is still lacking. From the perspective of a highly specialized Eating Disorder Unit in Milano, ARFID's phenomenology may be mimicked by other peculiar dietary habits or other eating disorders. Screening for this pathological conduct is necessary to assess a correct treatment frame for potentially serious disordered feeding behavior.
Methods: Clinical experts in Psychiatry, Psychology, and Dietetics collaborated in the translation process. The whole methodology involved several steps: (I) Italian translation; (II) backward translation from Italian to English; (III) assessing the conformity between the original English and retranslated questionnaires; (IV) testing the translated version on patients; (V) evaluating the degree of comprehensibility of the translated scale.
Key points: The Italian version of the NIAS (NIAS-IT) was administered online to 23 consecutive outpatients of a Dietetic department. For the most part, the sample of Italian native speakers found the translated version of the questionnaire to be comprehensible and easy to read.
Conclusions: The Italian version of the NIAS is perfectly comprehensible and can be applied to the Italian population for both clinical and research purposes.
Level of evidence: Level IV, evidence obtained from multiple time series with or without intervention.
{"title":"Italian translation of the Nine-Item ARFID Screen (NIAS-IT) for ARFID surveillance in a dietetic service.","authors":"Lorenzo Casati, Tiziano Prodi, Anna Vedani, Camilla Gesi, Carmen Caruso, Anna Boggio, Bernardo Dell'Osso","doi":"10.1007/s40519-025-01807-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40519-025-01807-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Several versions of the Nine-Item ARFID Screen (NIAS) have been developed in recent years to adapt the questionnaire to different languages and clinical samples. An Italian version is still lacking. From the perspective of a highly specialized Eating Disorder Unit in Milano, ARFID's phenomenology may be mimicked by other peculiar dietary habits or other eating disorders. Screening for this pathological conduct is necessary to assess a correct treatment frame for potentially serious disordered feeding behavior.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Clinical experts in Psychiatry, Psychology, and Dietetics collaborated in the translation process. The whole methodology involved several steps: (I) Italian translation; (II) backward translation from Italian to English; (III) assessing the conformity between the original English and retranslated questionnaires; (IV) testing the translated version on patients; (V) evaluating the degree of comprehensibility of the translated scale.</p><p><strong>Key points: </strong>The Italian version of the NIAS (NIAS-IT) was administered online to 23 consecutive outpatients of a Dietetic department. For the most part, the sample of Italian native speakers found the translated version of the questionnaire to be comprehensible and easy to read.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The Italian version of the NIAS is perfectly comprehensible and can be applied to the Italian population for both clinical and research purposes.</p><p><strong>Level of evidence: </strong>Level IV, evidence obtained from multiple time series with or without intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":11391,"journal":{"name":"Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity","volume":" ","pages":"10"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12876091/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145965519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}