Childhood emotional problems and self-perceptions predict weight gain in a longitudinal regression model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obesity and weight gain are correlated with psychological ill health. We predicted that childhood emotional problems and self-perceptions predict weight gain into adulthood.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data on around 6,500 individuals was taken from the 1970 Birth Cohort Study. This sample was a representative sample of individuals born in the UK in one week in 1970. Body mass index was measured by a trained nurse at the age of 10 years, and self-reported at age 30 years. Childhood emotional problems were indexed using the Rutter B scale and self-report. Self-esteem was measured using the LAWSEQ questionnaire, whilst the CARALOC scale was used to measure locus of control.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Controlling for childhood body mass index, parental body mass index, and social class, childhood emotional problems as measured by the Rutter scale predicted weight gain in women only (least squares regression <it>N </it>= 3,359; coefficient 0.004; <it>P </it>= 0.032). Using the same methods, childhood self-esteem predicted weight gain in both men and women (<it>N </it>= 6,526; coefficient 0.023; <it>P </it>< 0.001), although the effect was stronger in women. An external locus of control predicted weight gain in both men and women (<it>N </it>= 6,522; coefficient 0.022; <it>P </it>< 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Emotional problems, low self-esteem and an external locus of control in childhood predict weight gain into adulthood. This has important clinical implications as it highlights a direction for early intervention strategies that may contribute to efforts to combat the current obesity epidemic.</p

Eating Beyond Satiety and Body Mass Index

Objective: To examine discrete eating behaviours as predictors of body mass and psychological processes through which these behaviours might lead to increased body mass. Method: Three hundred and twenty-nine undergraduate females filled out questionnaires on eating beyond satiety (EBS), snacking, night eating, and hunger as well as the process variables — eating expectancies and self-reported cue reactivity — in an online study. The eating behaviours were regressed on body mass index and mediation analyses were conducted for the process variables. Results: EBS was the strongest predictor of body mass when the other eating behaviours were controlled. The process variables did not mediate the relationship between EBS and body mass. Discussion: EBS may be a discrete variable on which to intervene to prevent and treat overweight and obesity. Further research is needed to elucidate the situational and affective antecedents of EBS