Childhood obesity is a growing problem with a complex aetiology, for which multidisciplinary interventions are required. Our programme describes a novel structured psychosocial family-based intervention targeting the emotional regulation in childhood obesity, using a train trip metaphor aimed at improving healthy lifestyles for the family. The aims were (a) to describe the feasibility and acceptability of this psychosocial family-based intervention among children with overweight or obesity in primary care and (b) to examine the effectiveness of the "ENTREN-F" programme (with family intervention) compared with the "ENTREN" programme (without family intervention) among Spanish children regarding anthropometric variables, physical activity, emotional wellbeing, and family functioning. Children were randomly allocated to either ENTREN-F programme (n = 30) or psychological intervention for children (ENTREN, n = 40), and assessments were carried out over time (T 0 baseline vs. T 1 post/6-month vs. T 2 6-month follow-up). Both parent groups expressed high levels of satisfaction with the interventions. ENTREN-F resulted in higher adherence to treatment and was more effective in improving z-body mass index, reducing children's anxiety, and increasing family adaptability than the ENTREN programme. There were no significant changes in parents' emotional well-being and expressed emotion. Both groups improved in the children's emotional well-being and light physical activity. In summary, this multidisciplinary psychosocial family-based intervention was succesful.

Obesity and eating disorders are currently two significant health problems in Mexico. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of an integrated prevention program on university students through an exploratory controlled study that targeted specific predisposing factors of disordered eating and obesity related to healthy eating, physical activity, body image satisfaction and perceived pressure to be thin. A total of 388 university students participated (264 females and 124 males) and were assigned either to an intervention condition or one of the two control conditions (study skills vs. nonintervention); each comprised of a total of eight workshops lasting 90 min. The program did not have any effect on the male students. In contrast, there was an interaction effect for time and group in thin-ideal internalization (η 2 = 0.04) and in disordered eating attitudes/behaviours (η 2 = 0.03); both showed improvements over time only among the female sample. Though, the effect size was insignificant, which means that the effectiveness of this integrated prevention program was limited. Integrated prevention approaches to eating and weight-related problems are still nascent in Mexico, and further research in this field is warranted so as to fine tune future prevention programs.

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This study aims to examine the differences in family environment, psychological distress, and disordered eating symptomatology between children classified by weight status with or without loss of control (LOC) eating and to test a model of the role of emotional regulation of LOC eating based on a dysfunctional family environment. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 239 families. The assessment measured family expressed emotion, family adaptability and cohesion, child levels of depression and anxiety, body esteem, and disordered eating attitudes. The assessment was carried out in primary care centers and primary schools. Child body mass index (BMI) was associated with higher expressed emotion, psychological distress, and disordered eating symptomatology. Children with obesity and LOC presented higher BMI, poorer body esteem, and more disordered eating attitudes than children without LOC. Children with overweight/obesity, both with or without LOC, exhibited higher psychological distress and emotional overinvolvement than normal-weight children. A partial mediation of depression or anxiety and disordered eating attitudes between expressed emotion and LOC was found. Findings support that children with overweight/obesity show more family and psychological distress. Body esteem issues and disordered eating attitudes could alert the presence of LOC in children with obesity. The function of LOC might be to cope with psychological distress that may appear in a dysfunctional family environment.

There is scientific evidence that supports a strong association between early exposure to stressful life events and the presence of health complications throughout adulthood and, to a lesser extent, in adolescence and childhood. The aim of this study was to examine the accumulation of Psychosocial Stress Events (PSE) and the prevalence of mental disorders in children from 8 to 12 years. The association between these factors and child weight measurements was analysed. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 children classified by weight status (obesity, overweight and normal-weight). The assessment was carried out in primary care centres and primary schools. An experienced team carried out a structured medical-psychosocial history and a semi-structured interview aimed at identifying an early diagnosis of psychological disorders. Children filled out a questionnaire to evaluate PSE. The obesity group presented the greatest accumulation of PSE and highest prevalence of psychiatric diagnosis, compared to overweight and normal-weight children. To exceed four or more stressful events was positively associated with psychological problems and child body mass index (BMI z-score). A predictive model confirmed the interaction between a larger number of PSE and the occurrence of a psychiatric diagnosis as variables that predispose children by 26.2 times more to increased weight status. In conclusion, the accumulation of PSE in the family, school and social environments of the children was related to greater psychological distress. If not managed, the likelihood of suffering from other health complications, such as excess weight, may increase. It is important to monitor these variables to ensure positive health outcomes while specifically addressing childhood obesity. This is especially relevant for children from a disadvantaged social background and disharmonious family environments.

The aim was to examine the prevalence of childhood mental disorders in overweight/obese pediatric sample and also to explore the relationship between these pathologies and loss of control eating (LOC). Another aim was to assess the association between psychopathology and severity of obesity. A total of 170 children from different Health Centers were evaluated (84 girls and 86 boys; aged 8 to 12 years). Childhood psychological problems were assessed through a standardized diagnostic interview schedule (K-SADS-R) and by questionnaires (STAIC for anxiety, CDI for depression and ChEAT for disordered eating). Loss of control eating episodes were evaluated through the diagnostic interview. Of the sample, 57.06% of overweight/obese children met a DSM-5 diagnosis, typically an anxiety disorder; and 33.53% of the overweight/obese children presented loss of control eating episodes. We found more pathologic eating attitudes (ChEAT) in children who presented LOC versus children who did not. Finally, the scores obtained in the STAIC correlated positively with z-BMI and a positive association was found between z-BMI and the presence of episodes of LOC. These results highlight the importance of including psychological component in the initial assessment and contribute to the understanding of LOC episodes, which are still underestimated in childhood obesity.

ResumenEl objetivo del estudio fue validar el cuestionario Male Body Attitudes Scale (MBAS) en varones universitarios mexicanos. El estudio se realizó con 148 estudiantes, con una media de edad de 19 años (DT=2.14). El análisis factorial exploratorio de ejes principales resultó en una estructura de tres factores: Musculación, Baja grasa corporal y Altura. La consistencia interna del MBAS fue satisfactoria (α=.86), respecto a la versión original. En cuanto a la validez concurrente, el MBAS correlacionó significativamente con puntuaciones en alteración de la conducta alimentaria y el nivel de perfeccionismo social y autoorientado de los participantes. La sensibilidad al cambio fue evaluada con una intervención preventiva prepost en una submuestra de 28 estudiantes y se obtuvo una tendencia a la significación para la escala global del MBAS y para la Altura. Se concluye, que es un instrumento válido para evaluar insatisfacción corporal en jóvenes adultos varones en México. Palabras clave: validación, insatisfacción corporal, estudiantes universitarios, ejes principales, sensibilidad AbstractThe aim of this study was to validate the Male Body Attitudes Scale (MBAS) in Mexican male undergraduate students. A total of 148 students participated in the study (M=19.1, SD=2.14). A principal axes factor analysis was used to evaluate the scale resulting in a three factorial structure: Muscularity, Low body fat and Height. The internal consistency obtained was satisfactory MBAS (α=0.86), compared to the original version. Regarding the concurrent validation, the MBAS presented significant correlations with level of changes in eating behavior and the level of self and social perfectionism. Sensitivity to change was assessed through a pre-post preventive intervention in a subsample of 28 students and it showed a trend to significance for the overall scale of the MBAS and for the Height subscale. We concluded that it is an appropriate instrument to assess the body dissatisfaction among male adult young in Mexico.Keywords: validation, body dissatisfaction, university students, principal axis, sensitivity Agradecimiento: Este trabajo fue posible gracias al apoyo del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (A.R.S., contrato Ramón y Cajal RYC-2009-05092). Los autores agradecen la participación de todos los profesores y directores de las distintas facultades del campus de la Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas. IntroducciónLa imagen corporal es un constructo complejo (Cash & Pruzinsky, 2002) que ha generado un número creciente de investigaciones de distinta naturaleza que han tratado de evaluarlo. La imagen corporal involucra múltiples conceptos diferentes, puede ser conceptualizada desde su dimensión positiva, satisfacción corporal global o por partes corporales (e.g., cintura, cadera, brazos), desde la dimensión cognitivo-afectiva, la estima corporal o actitudes hacia la imagen corporal, y desde la dimensión conductual, conductas de comprobación corporal o evitación de mostrar el cuerpo (Cash & Pruzisky, 1990;Sepúlveda, León, & Botell...

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