Social cognition and emotion regulation may be impaired in adolescents with obesity independent of the presence of binge eating disorder: a two-center study

Figures & data

Figure 1. Study flowchart. (BED = Binge Eating Disorder).

Table 1. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of adolescents with obese BED, non-obese BED and normal weight control groups.

VARIABLE	BED + OB (n = 32)	Non-BED + OB (n = 32)	NWC (N = 64)	Statistics	p	η2	Post Hoc
Age, M (SD)	15.00 (1.43)	14.81 (1.65)	15.43 (1.27)	χ^2= 3.733	.155		ns
Sex (female), n (%)	18.00 (57.6%)	17.00 (54.4%)	33.00 (51.56%)	χ^2= 3.733	.91		ns
Mother’s education, High school, %	57.6	67.2	53.125	χ^2= 7.33	.291		ns
Father’s education, High school, %	60.8	73.6	75.0	χ^2= 6.58	.361		ns
BMI, kg/m^2 (SD)	34.58 (3.04)	32.72 (3.37)	20.00 (2.74)	F = 32.465	<.001		1 = 2, 1 > 3**, 2 > 3**
CDI, M (SD)	13.28 (4.95)	11.84 (4.37)	6.51 (4.06)	F = 27.358	<.001	0.322	1 = 2, 1 > 3**, 2 > 3**
STAI-TX1	44.12 (5.52)	44.84 (5.31)	40.70 (4.74)	F = 6.820	<.001	0.126	1 = 2, 1 > 3*, 2 > 3**
STAI-TX2	48.46 (5.44)	49.81 (6.05)	45.21 (4.52)	F = 7.170	<.001	0.135	1 = 2, 1 > 3*, 2 > 3**
EDE-Q total score, M (SD)	2.28 (0.76)	2.20 (0.84)	0.92 (0.70)	F = 23.265	<.001	0.271	1 = 2, 1 > 3**, 2 > 3**
EDE-Q restraint eating, M (SD)	2.23 (1.25)	1.95 (1.15)	0.90 (0.99)	F = 18.870	<.001	0.232	1 = 2, 1 > 3**, 2 > 3**
EDE-Q eating concern, M (SD)	1.12 (0.94)	1.67 (1.23)	0.72 (0.69)	F = 11.451	<.001	0.155	1 = 2, 1 = 3, 2 > 3**
EDE-Q weight concern, M (SD)	2.80 (0.99)	2.80 (1.04)	1.00 (0.75)	F = 43.867	<.001	0.505	1 = 2, 1 > 3**, 2 > 3**
EDE-Q shape concern, M (SD)	2.97 (1.37)	2.37 (1.30)	1.03 (0.93)	F = 34.535	<.001	0.356	1 = 2, 1 > 3**, 2 > 3**
EAT-40	20.31 (9.59)	21.84 (9.39)	12.37 (4.02)	F = 28.619	<.001	0.432	1 = 2, 1 > 3**, 2 > 3**

Note: BMI, body mass index; CDI, Children Depression Inventory; STAI, State–Trait Anxiety Inventory; EDE-Q, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire; EAT-40, Eating Attitude Test-40; 1 = BED + OB, Binge Eating Disorder Obesity group; 2 = non-BED + OB, non Binge Eating Disorder Obesity group; NWC, normal weight control group; SD, Standard Deviation; ns, non significiant. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.

Table 2. Results of Emotional and Social Cognition Assessment: means (M), standard deviations (SD), and group differences in obese BED, non-obese BED and normal weight control groups

VARIABLE	BED + OB (n = 32)	Non-BED + OB (n = 32)	NWC (N = 64)	Statistics	p	η^2	Post Hoc
Faces Test	15.37 (1.38)	15.21 (1.09)	16.56 (1.00)	F = 20.085	<.001	0.243	1 = 2, 1 < 3**, 2 < 3**
RME Test	20.25 (2.36)	20.15 (2.23)	22.48 (1.45)	F = 22.538	<.001	0.265	1 = 2, 1 < 3**, 2 < 3**
Faux Pas Test	6.59 (1.31)	6.75 (0.98)	7.43 (0.97)	F = 8.342	<.001	0.218	1 = 2, 1 < 3**, 2 < 3*
Unexpected Outcomes Test	15.96 (1.87)	15.90 (1.76)	18.01 (1.72)	F = 22.006	<.001	0.260	1 = 2, 1 < 3**, 2 < 3**
Comprehension Test	14.34 (2.69)	15.00 (1.29)	18.17 (1.32)	F = 18.240	<.001	0.118	1 = 2, 1 < 3**, 2 < 3**
DERS (Goal)	15.21 (5.04)	14.65 (4.10)	13.63 (3.73)	F = 1.718	.184		ns
DERS (Strategy)	17.37 (7.73)	14.50 (5.77)	16.20 (5.28)	F = 1.809	.168		ns
DERS (Impulsivity)	14.12 (4.92)	14.93 (5.30)	12.76 (4.34)	F = 2.450	.090		ns
DERS (Awareness)	18.12 (3.45)	15.06 (3.45)	15.37 (3.06)	F = 9.283	<.001	0.252	1 > 2**, 1 > 3**, 2 = 3
DERS (Clarity)	11.59 (3.67)	11.96 (4.56)	11.67 (2.52)	F = 0.112	.894		ns
DERS (Non-acceptance)	11.40 (4.67)	9.93 (2.42)	10.81 (3.61)	F = 1.305	.275		ns
DERS (Total)	88.35 (21.02)	81.53(17.40)	80.20 (12.85)	F = 2.681	.072		ns

Note: RME, Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test; DERS, Difficulties Emotion Regulation Scales; 1 = BED + OB, Binge Eating Disorder Obesity group; 2 = non-BED + OB, non Binge Eating Disorder Obesity group; NWC, normal weight control group; SD, Standard Deviation; ns, non significiant. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.

Table 3. Results of the correlation model between social cognitive measures and other clinical variables in the obese BED group.

VARIABLE	Faces Test	RME Test	Faux Pas Test	Unexpected Outcomes Test	Comprehension Test
BMI	−0.042	−0.187	−0.311	−0.436*	−0.030
CDI	0.241	−0.256	−0.399*	−0.030	−0.007
EDE-Q total score,	−0.327	−0.162	−0.252	−0.133	0.025
EDE-Q restraint eating,	−0.143	0.324	−0.145	−0.058	0.221
EDE-Q eating concern,	−0.355*	−0.261	−0.117	0.225	−0.387*
EDE-Q weight concern,	−0.149	−0.212	−0.066	0.025	−0.043
EDE-Q shape concern,	−0.210	−0.248	−0.407*	−0.361*	−0.274
EAT-40	−0.325	−0.061	−0.066	0.025	−0.043
DERS (Goal)	−0.049	0.013	−0.203	−0.053	−0.248
DERS (Strategy)	−0.155	−0.145	−0.368*	−0.136	−0.337
DERS (Impulsivity)	−0.123	−0.032	−0.282	−0.063	−0.118
DERS (Awareness)	−0.152	−0.123	0.258	−0.180	−0.205
DERS (Clarity)	−0.171	−0.118	0.016	0.052	−0.001
DERS (Non-acceptance)	−0.330	−0.187	−0.298	−0.131	−0.235
DERS (Total)	−0.275	−0.172	−0.203	−0.053	−0.248

Note: BMI, body mass index; CDI, Children Depression Inventory; EDE-Q, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire; EAT-40, Eating Attitude Test-40; DERS, Difficulties Emotion Regulation Scales. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.