Links between psychopathological symptoms and disordered eating behaviors in overweight/obese youths

Objective: Among overweight and obese youths, rates of depression, anxiety disorders, attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) are elevated. We analyze whether these emotional and behavioral problems are associated with specifically disordered eating pattern. Method: Participants in the study were 128 overweight and obese children/adolescents (BMI: m = 29.3, s = 4.5; BMI‐SDS: m = 2.5, s = 0.4) between 8 and 15 years. Structured psychiatric assessments were conducted adopting a multimethod, multiinformant approach. Results: Children/adolescents with ODD symptoms showed increased eating in response to external cues and binge eating. ADHD symptoms were not associated with disordered eating behaviors. Children/adolescents with symptoms of depression and anxiety showed emotional and binge eating. In particular, overweight girls with symptoms of depression showed restrained eating. Discussion: Our results point to specific eating problems in overweight/obese children with ODD and depression/anxiety symptoms. The findings could help to tailor interventions to optimally meet the specific needs of overweight children with emotional and behavioral problems. © 2012 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2013)