Stress-related eating, obesity and associated behavioural traits in adolescents: a prospective population-based cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundStress-related eating is associated with unhealthy eating and drinking habits and an increased risk of obesity among adults, but less is known about factors related to stress-driven eating behaviour among children and adolescents. We studied the prevalence of stress-related eating and its association with overweight, obesity, abdominal obesity, dietary and other health behaviours at the age of 16. Furthermore, we examined whether stress-related eating is predicted by early-life factors including birth size and maternal gestational health.MethodsThe study population comprised 3598 girls and 3347 boys from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (NFBC1986). Followed up since their antenatal period, adolescents underwent a clinical examination, and their stress-related eating behaviour, dietary habits and other health behaviours were assessed using a postal questionnaire. We examined associations using cross-tabulations followed by latent class analysis and logistic regression to profile the adolescents and explain the risk of obesity with behavioural traits.ResultsStress-related eating behaviour was more common among girls (43%) than among boys (15%). Compared with non-stress-driven eaters, stress-driven eaters had a higher prevalence of overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity. We found no significant associations between stress-eating and early-life factors. Among girls, tobacco use, shorter sleep, infrequent family meals and frequent consumption of chocolate, sweets, light sodas and alcohol were more prevalent among stress-driven eaters. Among boys, the proportions of those with frequent consumption of sausages, chocolate, sweets, hamburgers and pizza were greater among stress-driven eaters. For both genders, the proportions of those bingeing and using heavy exercise and strict diet for weight control were higher among stress-eaters. Besides a ‘healthy lifestyle’ cluster, latent class analysis revealed two other patterns (‘adverse habits’, ‘unbalanced weight control’) that significantly explained the risk of overweight among boys and girls.ConclusionsStress-related eating is highly prevalent among 16-year-old girls and is associated with obesity as well as adverse dietary and other health behaviours among both genders, but intrauterine conditions are seemingly uninvolved. In terms of obesity prevention and future health, adolescents who use eating as a passive way of coping could benefit from learning healthier strategies for stress and weight management.

Perceived Work Ability in the Light of Long-Term and Stress-Related Unhealthy Behaviors—a Prospective Cohort Study

“…the last time they had felt stressed [33][34]. This one item of the Ways of Coping Checklist has been used in earlier studies among adolescents and adults [19][20]. The answers were classified into two groups; no=0 (not at all, somewhat) and yes=1 (quite a lot or a great deal) [19].…”

“…It is also possible that other factors, such as eating behaviors and obesity, are more common among women in adolescence -a possibility that warrants future study [17,20].…”

“…The finding that stress-related eating and drinking is independently associated with poor perceived work ability is important, since stress-related eaters often make unhealthy dietary choices and are at risk of developing obesity [19][20]. Future studies are needed to determine the associations between food, energy and nutrient intake, meal frequency, and work ability [8,16].…”

“…Future studies are needed to determine the associations between food, energy and nutrient intake, meal frequency, and work ability [8,16]. Furthermore, the stress-related eating and drinking is learnt is societal context and a passive way to cope and try to relief feelings of stress [19][20]. Stress-related eating and drinking is easy to evaluate by a single question in health examinations; it could be used as an early indicator of potentially decreasing work ability.…”

“…Stress-related eating and drinking increases the risk of obesity, alcohol consumption and eating fatty and sugary foods, and thus may be a risk for poor work ability [19][20]. Stressrelated eating and drinking is one pattern of passive coping to relieve stress.…”