Background: Binge eating disorder (BED) is very frequently observed in patients considered for weight loss surgery and seems to influence their outcome critically. Literature highlights a global emotional overload in individuals with BED, but little is known on the mechanisms involved. The present study aimed to focus on emotion regulation, impulsivity, depression, and anxiety in people with and without BED and fulfilling inclusion criteria for bariatric surgery. Doing so, we sought to individualize factors related to BED. Then, we examined the contribution of depression, anxiety, emotion regulation difficulties, and impulsivity to inappropriate eating behaviors observed in patients with BED. Methods: A sample of 121 individuals (79.3% female, mean age: 40.82 ± 9.26, mean current body mass index (BMI): 44.92 kg/m² ± 7.55) seeking bariatric surgery were recruited at the Champagne Ardenne Specialized Center in Obesity in Reims, France from November 2017 to October 2018. They were stratified as with or without BED according to the binge eating scale. Characteristics identified in univariate analyses as differentiating the two groups were then included in multivariable analyses. Results: Multivariable analyses showed that limited access to emotional regulation strategies was significantly associated with BED. Furthermore, inappropriate eating behaviors were independently associated with age, depression severity, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and impulsivity in BED group. Conclusions: The present findings are indicative of an association between emotion deficit and BED in obese patients seeking bariatric surgery. Patients with BED could benefit from the addition of an emotion regulation intervention.

Background: Even if bariatric surgery is considered the most effective therapeutic approach, it is not equally successful among individuals suffering from severe obesity and candidates for this weight loss surgery. Among the factors that influence postsurgical outcomes, eating behaviors styles are known to play a key role in relapses. The aim of our study was to assess eating behaviors styles and several modulating psychopathological factors in patients suffering from severe obesity. Methods: Patients seeking bariatric surgery (N = 127) completed a set of standardized tools assessing eating behaviors (Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire), comorbid psychiatric conditions (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview), depression, and anxiety scores (Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and impulsivity scores (UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale). Results: We detected significant correlations between DEBQ Emotional Eating (EmoE) and depression, state and trait anxiety, and all dimensions of impulsivity. Significant correlations were also present between DEBQ External Eating (ExtE) and depression, state and trait anxiety and UPPS-P positive urgency, lack of perseverance and sensation seeking. Regression analyses identified sex (female), trait anxiety, and lack of perseverance as explanatory factors for EmoE, and depression severity score and positive urgency for ExtE. Conclusions: EmoE might be a means of dealing with negative emotions and/or intrusive thoughts, while ExtE might result from a mechanism associated with depression. These results should help to improve patients’ outcomes by defining specific therapeutic targets in psychological interventions. Plain English summary: After bariatric surgery, some patients regain weight. This is likely due to various factors, including a return of maladaptive eating styles, such as emotional eating (which occurs as a response to negative emotions, like depression, anxiety, anger, sadness, and discouragement), external eating (which refers to the tendency to eat in response to positive external cues, regardless of internal signals of hunger and satiety), and restraint eating (implying to make efforts to develop and maintain strategies to control calories intake, associated with weight loss after lifestyle intervention). Our goal in this research project was to explore associated factors (particularly depression, anxiety, and impulsivity) to these eating styles in patients suffering from obesity prior to bariatric surgery. Individuals seeking bariatric surgery were asked questions about their eating styles and their levels of depression, anxiety, and impulsivity using standardized questionnaires. We found that emotional eating might be a means of dealing with negative emotions and/or intrusive thoughts (e.g. about food or body dissatisfaction), while external eating might result from a mechanism associated with depression. We detected no association between restraint eating and any of the dimensions of impulsivity, nor depression and anxiety. Therapies aimed at improving patients’ abilities to regulate negative affects seem promising among subjects suffering from obesity and those seeking bariatric surgery. If well learned, these therapies might also help them to maintain weight loss after surgery by limiting maladaptive eating styles.

Studies on the genetic factors involved in binge drinking (BD) and its associated traits are very rare. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate differences in the association between impulsivity, emotion regulation and BD in a sample of young adults according to the rs6265/Val66Met variant in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene, a well-known candidate gene in alcohol use disorders. We recruited 226 university students (112 women), aged between 18 and 25 years old, from two centers in France. The participants completed measures related to alcohol consumption, depression severity, state anxiety levels, impulsivity (UPPS-P), and difficulties in emotion regulation [Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)]. The relationship between the BD score and the clinical characteristics in the BDNF genotype groups was assessed by partial correlation analyses and moderation analyses. The partial correlation analyses showed that, in the Val/Val genotype group, the BD score was positively related to UPPS-P Lack of Premeditation and Sensation Seeking scores. In the Met carriers group, the BD score was positively related to UPPS-P Positive Urgency, lack of Premeditation, lack of Perseverance and Sensation Seeking scores and to Clarity score of the DERS. Moreover, the BD score was positively associated with depression severity and state anxiety scores. The moderation analyses revealed that BDNF Val/Met genotype moderated the relationship between several clinical variables and BD. The results of the present study support the hypothesis of common and specific vulnerability factors regarding impulsivity and emotion regulation difficulties associated with BD according to this BDNF rs6265 polymorphism.

Background: Even if bariatric surgery is considered the most effective therapeutic approach, it is not equally successful among individuals suffering from severe obesity and candidates for this weight loss surgery. Among the factors that influence postsurgical outcomes, eating behaviors styles are known to play a key role in relapses. The aim of our study was to assess eating behaviors styles and several modulating psychopathological factors in patients suffering from obesity.Methods: Patients seeking bariatric surgery (N = 127) completed a set of standardized tools assessing eating behaviors (Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire), comorbid psychiatric conditions (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview), depression, and anxiety scores (Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and impulsivity scores (UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale).Results: We detected significant correlations between DEBQ Emotional Eating (EmoE) and depression, state and trait anxiety, and all dimensions of impulsivity. Significant correlations were also present between DEBQ External Eating (ExtE) and depression, state and trait anxiety and UPPS-P positive urgency, lack of perseverance and sensation seeking. Regression analyses identified sex (female), trait anxiety, and lack of perseverance as explanatory factors for EmoE, and depression severity score and positive urgency for ExtE.Conclusions: EmoE might be a means of dealing with negative emotions and/or intrusive thoughts, while ExtE might result from a mechanism associated with depression. These results should help to improve patients’ outcomes by defining specific therapeutic targets in psychological interventions.

BackgroundEven if bariatric surgery appears as the most effective therapeutic approach, it is not equally successful across individuals suffering from obesity. Among the factors that influence postsurgical outcomes, eating behaviors are known to play a key role in relapses. The aim of our study was to assess eating behaviors styles and several modulating psychopathological factors in patients suffering from obesity.MethodsPatients seeking bariatric surgery (N = 127) completed a set of standardized tools assessing eating behaviors (DEBQ), psychiatric comorbid conditions (MINI), mood (BDI-13, STAI), and impulsivity (UPPS-P).ResultsWe found significant correlations between DEBQ Emotional Eating (EmoE) and depression, state and trait anxiety and all dimensions of impulsivity. Significant correlations also occurred between DEBQ External Eating (ExtE) and depression, state and trait anxiety and UPPS-P positive urgency, lack of perseverance and sensation seeking. Regression analyses showed female gender, trait anxiety, and lack of perseverance as explanatory factors in EmoE, and depression severity score and positive urgency in ExtE.ConclusionsEmoE might be a means of dealing with negative emotions and/or intrusive thoughts, while ExtE may result from a mechanism associated with depression. These results may help to improve patients’ outcome by defining specific therapeutic targets in psychological interventions.

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to describe a study protocol of a clinical trial exploring the effectiveness of the new mobile application MyDéfi proposing personalized feedback, on both alcohol consumption and quality of life, as well as the blood alcohol exposure biomarker phosphatidylethanol, in university students displaying binge drinking behavior. Methods: This prospective national multicentric randomized, two‐arm (1:1), double‐blind controlled trial will recruit 628 students (aged 18–25 years) with binge drinking behavior. Participants will be randomized in the “intervention” group (personalized feedback) or the “control” group (generic feedback) and will undergo four monthly visits. Monthly dried blood spot sample for measuring phosphatidylethanol concentration and online questionnaires will be collected. Our primary objective is to assess the reduction weekly standard drinks, through self‐report gathered via MyDéfi. Secondary objectives will evaluate the application's impact on the dosage of phosphatidylethanol blood concentration and on quality of life”. Results: Recruitment started in March 2024 and will end in March 2026. Conclusion: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of two versions of the same mobile application (generic vs. personalized feedback) on alcohol consumption in students displaying binge drinking behavior. The effectiveness of the application will be measured, with a secondary objective of quantifying phosphatidylethanol. Our study will open new perspectives on the use of digital interventions for students who do not actively seek treatment. Trial Registration: Trial registration number (NCT06084832), the date of registration (10th October 2023) and when this was done (16th October 2023). https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06084832