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Objective:The current study investigates the aspects of self-regulation skills in overweight and normal-weight children, which may be related to their overeating problems. It is hypothesised that overweight children may show poor decision-making behaviour, and this may be because of two processes: hypersensitivity to reward or future insensitivity.Subjects:Average weight children (n=66) and overweight children (n=64) between 11 and 16 years were tested with the developmentally appropriate analogue of the iowa gambling task.Results:The results reveal that overweight children show decision-making failure ensued from future insensitivity.Conclusion:These findings provide support for the reward deficiency hypothesis or the anhedonic route to obesity in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the validity and reliability of the parent-report version of Carver and White's BIS/BAS-scales for children, measuring Punishment and Reward Sensitivity (PS and RS). Gender and age differences in PS and RS were explored. Mothers (n = 546, 62% girls, 2–18 years) completed the BIS/BAS parent-version and other instruments assessing PS/RS, personality and psychopathology. Reliability of most (sub-)scales was at least acceptable. The BIS/BAS-scales had meaningful relationships with other instruments assessing PS/RS, personality and psychopathology. There were significant age differences on BIS/BAS-scores, but no significant gender differences. The BIS/BAS parent-version is a valid and reliable parent-report PS/RS instrument for children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding eating behavior is not possible without studying individual reward circuits. Reward Sensitivity (RS) and Punishment Sensitivity (PS) are psychological concepts reflecting sensitivity of the neurological Behavioral Approach (BAS) and Inhibition (BIS) Systems respectively (Gray, 1987). Under normal circumstances, BIS and BAS independently drive behavior, but in extreme cases, one overactive system suppresses the other (Corr, 2001, 2002; Vervoort, Wolters, Hogendoorn, de Haan, Boer, & Prins, 2010). While research provides evidence for the role of RS and PS in several behaviors and psychological problems, little is known about their implications for eating behavior and obesity. Cross-sectional studies in adults (Davis & Fox, 2008) and children (Verbeken, Braet, Lammertyn, Goossens & Moens, 2012) support a dynamic vulnerability model of the association between self-reported RS and bodyweight. We extend this research, by describing cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between RS and measured bodyweight and exploring the role of PS in the association between RS and bodyweight. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of RS and weight outcomes are tested by fitting quadratic regression models of RS on weight measures, controlling for gender and age effects. The cross-sectional associations are studied in a Flemish sample of 10–15 year olds, the longitudinal associations are studied in Dutch youngsters participating in the TRAILS study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Psychological mechanisms play a crucial role in explaining weight gain. Aim of the present study was to identify subtypes in youngsters with obesity in line with these mechanisms. Defining homogeneous clusters within this heterogeneous group provides relevant information for personalized treatments. Data were collected in N = 572 participants (51% boys, aged 7–19) with extreme obesity (%BMI M = 187.8; SD = 30.9) recruited in an inpatient treatment centre. Based on psychological models of overweight/obesity, the Affect Regulation Model, the Reward Deficiency Model and The Dual Pathway Model, cluster variables were selected assessing emotional eating, reward reactivity and regulative capacities. Youngsters reported on emotional eating (DEBQ Emotional Eating) and reward sensitivity (BAS), while parents reported on children's regulative Executive Functions (BRIEF). Characteristics of the different clusters were examined concerning weight variables (pre and post treatment) and variables indexing problematic eating (DEBQ External Eating, Ch-EDE), affect regulation (FEEL-KJ) and depressive symptoms (CDI). Hierarchical cluster analyses supported the presence of three clusters, further evaluated by K-means cluster analyses. The cluster solutions differed according to age and sex (boys 7–13, boys 14–19, girls 7–13, girls 14–19). In all four age and gender subsamples, an "Emotional Eating" cluster displaying a vulnerable profile (high depression, maladaptive emotion regulation, problematic eating) and a "Reward Deficiency" cluster displaying a more resilient profile were detected. In girls 7–13, a "Weak Executive Functioning" indicative of insufficient self-regulative capacities, showed moderate to high emotional problems and problematic eating. In the other subgroups, the "Mean Level Functioning" cluster also showed elevated emotional problems and problematic eating. Given that different clusters can be identified, and given that these clusters have different profiles on emotional problems and problematic eating, subtyping youngsters with severe obesity is indicated, setting the stage for personalized treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recently developed Salzburg Stress Eating Scale (SSES) is the first to specifically address the relationship of stress experiences and coping failure on the one hand and increases or decreases in food intake on the other hand. The SSES demonstrated good psychometric properties in English and German speaking adult samples. However, it has not been applied to younger age groups, which may differ in their expression and reporting of stress related eating behavior. Therefore, the current study evaluated the psychometric properties and correlates of the SSES in a Dutch speaking community sample of adolescents (study 1; N = 244, 9-18 years, adjusted BMI range = 71-189%, M = 103%) and in an inpatient sample of adolescents with obesity (study 2; N = 100, 9-16 years, adjusted BMI range = 151-310%, M = 194.5%). Factor analysis confirmed the original one factor structure in both studies. Internal consistency was 0.85 in study 1 and 0.90 in study 2 (Cronbach's alpha). In both the obesity and community sample, SSES scores were positively correlated with other eating-related measures (e.g., emotional eating, external eating), and uncorrelated with non-eating-related wellbeing measures (e.g., perceived stress, depressive symptoms). Unexpectedly, however, no association with adjusted BMI was found in the community sample, obesity sample, or combined sample. The scores of the obesity sample were also compared to the community sample in an age and sex-matched subsample of study 1. Against our hypothesis, the obesity sample did not report higher SSES scores than the community sample. The good internal consistency and the evidence for convergent and discriminant validity indicate that the Dutch version of the SSES seems useful in examining this clinically important eating behavior in adolescents. However, validity with regard to stress eating and BMI remains to be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological mechanisms play a crucial role in explaining weight gain. Aim of the present study was to identify subtypes in youngsters with obesity in line with these mechanisms. Defining homogeneous clusters within this heterogeneous group provides relevant information for personalized treatments. Data were collected in N = 572 participants (51% boys, aged 7-19) with extreme obesity (%BMI M = 187.8; SD = 30.9) recruited in an inpatient treatment centre. Based on psychological models of overweight/obesity, the Affect Regulation Model, the Reward Deficiency Model and The Dual Pathway Model, cluster variables were selected assessing emotional eating, reward reactivity and regulative capacities. Youngsters reported on emotional eating (DEBQ Emotional Eating) and reward sensitivity (BAS), while parents reported on children's regulative Executive Functions (BRIEF). Characteristics of the different clusters were examined concerning weight variables (pre and post treatment) and variables indexing problematic eating (DEBQ External Eating, Ch-EDE), affect regulation (FEEL-KJ) and depressive symptoms (CDI). Hierarchical cluster analyses supported the presence of three clusters, further evaluated by K-means cluster analyses. The cluster solutions differed according to age and sex (boys 7-13, boys 14-19, girls 7-13, girls 14-19). In all four age and gender subsamples, an "Emotional Eating" cluster displaying a vulnerable profile (high depression, maladaptive emotion regulation, problematic eating) and a "Reward Deficiency" cluster displaying a more resilient profile were detected. In girls 7-13, a "Weak Executive Functioning" indicative of insufficient self-regulative capacities, showed moderate to high emotional problems and problematic eating. In the other subgroups, the "Mean Level Functioning" cluster also showed elevated emotional problems and problematic eating. Given that different clusters can be identified, and given that these clusters have different profiles on emotional problems and problematic eating, subtyping youngsters with severe obesity is indicated, setting the stage for personalized treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]