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Do executive functioning deficits underpin binge eating disorder? A comparison of overweight women with and without binge eating pathology
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Do executive functioning deficits underpin binge eating disorder? A comparison of overweight women with and without binge eating pathology

Stephanie M Manasse, Evan M Forman, Anthony C Ruocco, Meghan L Butryn, Adrienne S Juarascio and Kathleen Kara Fitzpatrick
The International journal of eating disorders, v 48(6), pp 677-683
Sep 2015
PMID: 25644028
url
https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22383View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Neuropsychology - methods Young Adult Binge-Eating Disorder - psychology Obesity - psychology Humans Middle Aged Adolescent Adult Female Aged Overweight - psychology Executive Function - physiology
Deficits in executive function (EF)-including inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, decision-making, and working memory-may be risk or maintenance factors for binge eating disorder (BED). However, there is mixed evidence regarding EF deficits in individuals with BED. Significant methodological weaknesses (e.g., use of a single EF measure, omission of relevant covariates) in the current literature represent one reason for lack of consensus. This study compared EF in a sample of overweight women with (n = 31) and without (n = 43) full or subthreshold BED, with the aim of conducting a multifaceted investigation of the neurocognitive profile of BED. A neuropsychological battery of EF was administered to all participants. After controlling for IQ and age, individuals with binge eating displayed significantly poorer performance on tasks of problem-solving and inhibitory control, and displayed higher prioritization of immediate versus delayed rewards, but the two groups did not appear to differ on set-shifting, working memory, and risk taking. Differences in inhibitory control were no longer statistically significant when depressive symptomology was added as a covariate and correction for multiple comparisons was applied. Exploratory analyses indicated that full and sub-threshold BED groups did not differ in EF. Results partially support the hypothesis of relative EF deficits in individuals with BED, suggesting that binge eating may be maintained by cognitive factors distinct from those of obesity. Future research should aim to replicate with a larger sample, control for a wider range of psychiatric comorbidities, and examine whether EF deficits predict treatment outcome.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Nutrition & Dietetics
Psychiatry
Psychology
Psychology, Clinical
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