Obesity and Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents: The Bidirectional Link

Abstract

Obesity, eating disorders and unhealthy dieting practices among children and adolescents are alarming health concerns due to their high prevalence and adverse effects on physical and psychosocial health. We present the evidence that eating disorders and obesity can be managed or prevented using the same interventions in the pediatric age. In the presence of obesity in the pediatric age, disordered eating behaviors are highly prevalent, increasing the risk of developing eating disorders. The most frequently observed in subjects with obesity are bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorders, both of which are characterized by abnormal eating or weight-control behaviors. Various are the mechanisms overlying the interaction including environmental and individual ones, and different are the approaches to reduce the consequences. Evidence-based treatments for obesity and eating disorders in childhood include as first line approaches weight loss with nutritional management and lifestyle modification via behavioral psychotherapy, as well as treatment of psychiatric comorbidities if those are not a consequence of the eating disorder. Drugs and bariatric surgery need to be used in extreme cases. Future research is necessary for early detection of risk factors for prevention, more precise elucidation of the mechanisms that underpin these problems and, finally, in the cases requiring therapeutic intervention, to provide tailored and timely treatment. Collective efforts between the fields are crucial for reducing the factors of health disparity and improving public health.

Benefits of Exercise in Multidisciplinary Treatment of Binge Eating Disorder in Adolescents with Obesity

“…In this extremely delicate period of life, both obesity and eating disorders represent serious health problems worldwide [ 1 , 2 ].…”

“…Obesity, for which the rate in the population has dramatically increased in the last few decades, is a pathological health condition characterized by excessive adipose tissue storage because of an imbalance between caloric intake and energy consumption. Obesity is responsible for serious obesity-related comorbidities and profoundly affects physical health, social, and emotional well-being, and self-esteem in children and adolescents [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ].…”

“…Similarly to obesity, EDs are complex diseases that affect adolescents with an increasing prevalence [ 1 ] and are an alarming health concern to both physical and mental health [ 2 , 3 ].…”

“…Traditionally, obesity and EDs, particularly binge eating disorder (BED), have been considered separate conditions, but there is emerging evidence—such as etiology, comorbidities, risk factors, psychosocial impairment, and prevention approaches—highlighting important overlaps among these conditions [ 2 , 3 ]. Indeed, these two pathological conditions have a bidirectional impact [ 2 ]. On one hand, BED is considered a risk factor for obesity development, on the other, obesity may increase the risk for BED [ 3 ].…”

Trait Impulsivity and Choice Impulsivity in Young Adult Students With Probable Binge Eating Disorder

“…The lifetime prevalence for BED in adults is about 2%, with women having a higher risk than men ( 3 ). The prevalence of BED among obese adolescents aged 12–17 years has been reported over 30% in recent literature ( 4 ). Generally, adolescents and young adults have a high risk for BED due to their immature cognitive control abilities ( 5 , 6 ).…”