Relationship between impulsivity, uncontrolled eating and body mass index: a hierarchical model

Impulsivity increases the risk for obesity and weight gain. However, the precise role of impulsivity in the aetiology of overeating behavior and obesity is currently unknown. Here we examined the relationships between personality-related measures of impulsivity, Uncontrolled Eating, body mass index...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International Journal of Obesity 2022-01, Vol.46 (1), p.129-136
Main Authors: Garcia-Garcia, Isabel, Neseliler, Selin, Morys, Filip, Dadar, Mahsa, Yau, Yvonne H C, Scala, Stephanie G, Zeighami, Yashar, Sun, Natalie, Collins, D Louis, Vainik, Uku, Dagher, Alain
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Body mass
Body Mass Index
Body size
Body weight gain
Domains
Eating
Eating behavior
Feeding Behavior - psychology
Female
Frontal gyrus
Humans
Impulsive Behavior
Impulsivity
Magnetic resonance imaging
Male
Multivariate statistical analysis
Obesity
Reinforcement
Self control
Self-Control - psychology
Sensitivity
Students - psychology
Students - statistics & numerical data
Superior temporal gyrus
Surveys and Questionnaires
Temporal gyrus
Thickness
Universities - organization & administration
Universities - statistics & numerical data
Weight gain measurement
Young Adult
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Summary:Impulsivity increases the risk for obesity and weight gain. However, the precise role of impulsivity in the aetiology of overeating behavior and obesity is currently unknown. Here we examined the relationships between personality-related measures of impulsivity, Uncontrolled Eating, body mass index (BMI), and longitudinal weight changes. In addition, we analyzed the associations between general impulsivity domains and cortical thickness to elucidate brain vulnerability factors related to weight gain. Students (N = 2318) in their first year of university-a risky period for weight gain-completed questionnaire measures of impulsivity and eating behavior at the beginning of the school year. We also collected their weight at the end of the term (N = 1177). Impulsivity was divided into three factors: stress reactivity, reward sensitivity and lack of self-control. Using structural equation models, we tested a hierarchical relationship, in which impulsivity traits were associated with Uncontrolled Eating, which in turn predicted BMI and weight change. Seventy-one participants underwent T1-weighted MRI to investigate the correlation between impulsivity and cortical thickness. Impulsivity traits showed positive correlations with Uncontrolled Eating. Higher scores in Uncontrolled Eating were in turn associated with higher BMI. None of the impulsivity-related measurements nor Uncontrolled Eating were correlated with longitudinal weight gain. Higher stress sensitivity was associated with increased cortical thickness in the superior temporal gyrus. Lack of self-control was positively associated with increased thickness in the superior medial frontal gyrus. Finally, higher reward sensitivity was associated with lower thickness in the inferior frontal gyrus. The present study provides a comprehensive characterization of the relationships between different facets of impulsivity and obesity. We show that differences in impulsivity domains might be associated with BMI via Uncontrolled Eating. Our results might inform future clinical strategies aimed at fostering self-control abilities to prevent and/or treat unhealthy weight gain.
ISSN:0307-0565
1476-5497
DOI:10.1038/s41366-021-00966-4