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Relations of dietary restraint and depressive symptomatology to loss of control over eating in overweight youngsters

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Abstract

This study investigated the dietary restraint and depression pathway to loss of control over eating among a sample of overweight youngsters based on the assumptions of the extended cognitive behavioural theory for bulimia nervosa. The children’s version of the eating disorder examination interview and the children’s depression inventory were administered to 350 overweight youngsters (with a mean age of 13.30 years old). Structural equation modelling indicated that the over-evaluation of eating, weight and shape was significantly associated with dietary restraint, which in turn was significantly associated with loss of control over eating. Evidence was also found for a direct pathway between depressive symptoms and loss of control over eating. It can be concluded that in general, the main components to maintain the bulimic cycle in eating disordered patients operate in a similar way to maintain loss of control over eating in overweight youngsters.

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Notes

  1. Since our inpatient sample has to complete a rather large standard battery of several assessment instruments at the start of their treatment, we were limited with regard to adding extra instruments to the assessment battery. Although we are aware that the concept of mood intolerance encompasses a broad range of adverse mood states, we opted to focus exclusively on examining the role of depressive symptoms (further described as the ‘depression pathway’).

  2. It needs to be remarked that it was not the purpose of the present study to test the entire CBT-E [21]. The CBT-E entails some other additional mechanisms as well (such as the role of perfectionism and core low self-esteem). However, in the present study, our main focus was reserved on those variables that, according to the theory, appear to be directly associated with binge eating. Also, we are aware that all variables that were investigated in the present study are intrapersonal and that interpersonal variables (such as adverse life events) may also contribute to eating pathology.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Special Research Funds of Ghent University.

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  1. Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, Ghent University, H. Dunantlaan 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Lien Goossens, Caroline Braet & Guy Bosmans

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  1. Lien Goossens
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  2. Caroline Braet
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Correspondence to Lien Goossens.

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Goossens, L., Braet, C. & Bosmans, G. Relations of dietary restraint and depressive symptomatology to loss of control over eating in overweight youngsters. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 19, 587–596 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-010-0089-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-010-0089-5

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