Key Takeaways
- Integrated perspective: The editorial argues that
public health strategies have often treated eating disorders and obesity
as separate issues. The authors highlight the strong overlap, such as how
dieting and body dissatisfaction—common in obesity—can also drive
disordered eating Western Sydney UniversityMDPI.
- Contents of the issue:
- 13 primary research papers, 3
reviews, and 2 commentaries.
- The commentaries advocate for
integrated prevention and treatment approaches Wisdom Library+2Western
Sydney University+2MDPI+2.
- Articles cover four pillars:
1.
Neuroscience of eating
and weight regulation.
2.
Links between
disordered eating and obesity risk.
3.
Holistic treatment
approaches.
4.
Assessment methods in
clinical/research settings Semantic Scholar+7MDPI+7Western
Sydney University+7.
- Examples from the issue:
- Neuro studies show EEG
patterns tied to impulsivity and binge eating at higher BMIs; novel
mechanisms like NMUR2 (neuromedin U receptor 2) could open new treatment
avenues MDPI.
- Research links social
factors—like family food quality, weight teasing, maternal body
dissatisfaction—to higher obesity and disordered eating risk MDPI.
- Emerging treatments include
combining neural feedback with behavioral approaches for more effective
weight and eating disorder management MDPI.
🔍 Why it matters
This editorial—and the
special issue it frames—marks a shift toward recognizing a unified clinical
and research approach. Rather than siloed views on obesity or eating
disorders, it favors strategies that address shared psychological,
biological, and social factors. This integration supports better
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment outcomes.
This editorial
highlights the need for a combined approach to eating disorders and obesity,
recognizing shared risk factors like body dissatisfaction and dieting. It
introduces 18 papers that explore neuroscience, prevention, assessment, and
holistic treatment strategies, calling for integrated research and care models
to address stigma and improve outcomes.
🔗 Read it here: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/5/1055
1. Neuromedin U Receptor 2 (NMUR2) & Binge-Type Eating
Smith et al. (2019) investigated how
NMUR2—a brain receptor—affects binge-style eating in rats. They found:
- NMUR2 in nucleus accumbens
(NAc): Higher levels correlated with
increased consumption of lower-fat, carb-rich foods.
- NMUR2 in ventral tegmental area
(VTA): Higher levels inversely
correlated with intake of extremely high-fat foods.
- Functional implication: Knocking down NMUR2
intensified binge eating of high-fat foods, suggesting NMUR2 serves as a
modulatory “brake” on binge behavior mdpi.com+10pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+10researchgate.net+10.
Why this matters: The NAc and VTA are
central to food reward and motivation—key systems in both obesity and binge
eating. This molecular insight suggests NMUR2-based interventions could target
compulsive overeating across conditions.
🧠 2. Feedback-Based
Treatments for Eating Disorders & Obesity
A systematic review
included in the issue assessed brain and behavioral feedback therapies—such as
neurofeedback and real-time fMRI—and found:
- Enhanced emotion and impulse
control: Patients gained better
self-regulation capabilities, relevant for binge eating and weight
control.
- Transdiagnostic benefit: Techniques were effective
across disorders—from bulimia to obesity—supporting a unified treatment
model researchgate.net.
Why this matters: Rather than distinct
protocols per diagnosis, these feedback tools could simultaneously improve
cognitive-behavioral outcomes across a spectrum of disordered eating and weight
issues.
🔗 Takeaway
- Biological mechanisms (like NMUR2) offer targets
that affect eating behaviors across obesity and disordered eating.
- Neurobehavioral feedback
therapies provide shared treatment
pathways for self-control and emotional regulation.
3. Family Environment, Weight Stigma & Disordered Eating in
Adolescents
Study by Puhl et al.
(2019)
🔍 Focus:
This study explored
how weight-related teasing by family members and parental attitudes
toward body image affect adolescent mental health, body image, and eating
behaviors.
📌 Key Findings:
- Family-based teasing:
- Teens who experienced weight
teasing at home were more likely to:
- Feel dissatisfied with their
bodies
- Engage in unhealthy weight
control behaviors
- Experience low self-esteem
and symptoms of depression
- Parental modeling of body
dissatisfaction:
- If mothers were critical of
their own bodies, teens (especially girls) were more likely to
develop negative body image.
- Fathers' weight-based comments also significantly
contributed to risk of disordered eating.
- Weight stigma internalization:
- When teens absorbed negative
messages about weight from family, it increased shame and risk
of binge eating, regardless of actual weight.
💡 Why it matters:
This study underscores
that family environment is a powerful early risk factor. It shows how:
- Obesity and disordered eating often
share emotional origins in family-based stigma.
- Prevention efforts must target
families, not just individuals, by:
- Reducing weight-based bullying
and shame at home
- Promoting positive body talk
and modeling healthy self-esteem
💡 Why it matters:
This study provides evidence
that early
trauma can lead to long-term emotional and physiological patterns
that increase risk for both obesity and disordered eating.
It reinforces the idea that:
·
Emotional eating is not just about willpower—it can be a learned coping mechanism
from childhood.
·
Addressing trauma history
is essential in any treatment of binge eating or chronic weight issues.
Implications for Care:
- Therapies for obesity and
eating disorders should include:
- Trauma-informed care
- Emotional regulation skills
- Compassionate approaches that
reduce shame and guilt around food
PowerPoint Title: Eating Disorders and
Obesity: Shared Risks and Treatment Approaches
Slide 1: Introduction
- Eating disorders and obesity
are often treated separately.
- But they share emotional,
biological, and social risk factors.
- This presentation summarizes
key research from Nutrients (2019).
Slide 2: Common Risk
Factors
- Body dissatisfaction
- Dieting and restriction
- Emotional trauma and stress
- Weight-based bullying or
teasing
Slide 3: Brain &
Biology: The NMUR2 Study
- NMUR2 is a brain receptor
affecting binge-style eating.
- More NMUR2 in certain brain
areas = less high-fat food consumption.
- Targeting NMUR2 may help reduce
binge eating.
Slide 4: Brain-Based
Treatments
- Neurofeedback and real-time
brain imaging (fMRI)
- Improve self-control, emotion
regulation
- Work across disorders (bulimia,
binge eating, obesity)
Slide 5: Family Risk
Factors
- Parental teasing or body
shaming increases risk.
- Parents modeling poor body
image = more teen dissatisfaction.
- Internalizing stigma leads to
low self-esteem and unhealthy behaviors.
Slide 6: Childhood
Trauma Study
- Emotional abuse/neglect linked
to emotional eating.
- Higher BMI and binge eating in
those with early trauma.
- Emotional eating often
unconscious.
Slide 7: Why This
Matters
- Obesity and eating disorders
have overlapping causes.
- Need for trauma-informed,
stigma-free support.
- Family, school, and community
education are key.
Slide 8:
Recommendations
- Avoid weight stigma in homes
and schools.
- Promote healthy emotional
coping skills.
- Use brain-based and emotional
therapies.
- Include families in treatment
plans.
Slide 9: Conclusion
- Shared understanding helps
improve prevention and treatment.
- Let’s support people with
compassion, not blame.
- Based on research from
Nutrients, Special Issue 2019.
Slide 10: References
- Smith et al., 2019 (NMUR2
study)
- Puhl et al., 2019 (Family
teasing study)
- Imperatori et al., 2019 (Trauma
& emotional eating)
- Nutrients, Vol. 11, Issue 5,
Special Issue: "Eating Disorders and Obesity"
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