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Eating Behaviors in Children and Teens

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 November 2024 | Viewed by 6148

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Eating and Weight Disorders, Villa Garda Hospital, Via Monte Baldo 89, 37016 Verona, Italy
Interests: eating disorders; obesity; eating disorder psychopathology; anorexia nervosa
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The eating behavior of children and teens is influenced by several factors, including biological mechanisms controlling homeostatic and hedonic feeding; food stimuli; the family environment; events and associated mood changes; preoccupations with thoughts about shape, weight and eating control; and other cognitive processes. While healthy eating patterns contribute to optimal physical and psychosocial development, dysfunctional and unhealthy eating are associated with obesity, metabolic diseases, feeding and eating disorders, and other illnesses. This Special Issue on “Eating Behaviors in Children and Teens” aims to provide an update on the latest evidence regarding eating behaviors in children and adolescents. Particularly, papers (reviews and clinical or experimental studies) dealing with the mechanisms influencing eating behaviors and the association between nutrition, eating patterns, and eating behaviors with physical and psychosocial outcomes in young persons will be included.

Dr. Riccardo Dalle Grave
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • eating behavior
  • child
  • adolescents
  • obesity
  • diabetes
  • eating disorders
  • anorexia nervosa
  • avoidant restrictive food intake disorders
  • binge eating
  • emotional eating

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 612 KiB  
Article
Intensive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa Outcomes before, during and after the COVID-19 Crisis
by Riccardo Dalle Grave, Mirko Chimini, Gianmatteo Cattaneo, Anna Dalle Grave, Loretta Ferretti, Sofia Parolini and Simona Calugi
Nutrients 2024, 16(10), 1411; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16101411 - 8 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2152
Abstract
Studies comparing treatment outcomes in patients with eating disorders before and during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have yielded conflicting results. Furthermore, no study has yet evaluated treatment outcomes in adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa before, during and after the crisis. Hence, this study [...] Read more.
Studies comparing treatment outcomes in patients with eating disorders before and during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have yielded conflicting results. Furthermore, no study has yet evaluated treatment outcomes in adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa before, during and after the crisis. Hence, this study investigated the outcomes of an intensive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Enhanced (CBT-E) program on adolescents with anorexia nervosa consecutively treated before (n = 64), during (n = 37) and after (n = 31) the period of emergency spanning 8 March 2020 to 31 March 2022. Results show consistent and similar improvements in eating disorder psychopathology, general psychopathology and body mass index-for-age percentiles across all three periods, with approximately 60% of patients maintaining a full response at the 20-week follow-up, suggesting that treatment efficacy remained robust. Overall, the study underscores the effectiveness of intensive CBT-E as a viable treatment option for adolescents with anorexia nervosa, even during and after unprecedented challenges such as those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eating Behaviors in Children and Teens)
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17 pages, 1182 KiB  
Article
The Dimensionality, Consistency, and Structural Validity of an Instrument Used to Measure Obesogenic Attitudes in Parents from Southern Spain (The PRELSA Scale)
by Jesús Carretero-Bravo, Mercedes Díaz-Rodríguez, Bernardo Carlos Ferriz-Mas, Celia Pérez-Muñoz and Juan Luis González-Caballero
Nutrients 2024, 16(8), 1135; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16081135 - 11 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1049
Abstract
(1) Background: We aimed to analyze the dimensionality, internal consistency, and structural validity of the Preschool Eating, Lifestyle, and Sleeping Attitudes Scale (PRELSA Scale), which is an instrument that was designed to measure obesogenic behaviors. (2) Methods: We carried out an observational study [...] Read more.
(1) Background: We aimed to analyze the dimensionality, internal consistency, and structural validity of the Preschool Eating, Lifestyle, and Sleeping Attitudes Scale (PRELSA Scale), which is an instrument that was designed to measure obesogenic behaviors. (2) Methods: We carried out an observational study by means of an online survey. The PRELSA Scale consists of 13 dimensions and 60 items relating to the most common obesogenic behaviors and attitudes. Additionally, we obtained sociodemographic characteristics and concrete habits from the sample. We obtained the responses of 791 parents and caregivers of preschool children between 2 and 6 years of age in Andalusia (southern Spain). We analyzed dimensionality through an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), consistency through Cronbach’s Alpha, structural validity through a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and measurement invariance with multigroup CFA models. (3) Results: The EFA showed a 14-dimensional structure with 48 items. The internal consistency was acceptable in all dimensions (Cronbach’s Alpha range of 0.72 to 0.97). The structure was confirmed in the CFA with good fit indices (CFI and TLI > 0.9 and RMSEA < 0.05). We ensured that the scale had measurement invariance regarding education, income, and marital status. (4) Conclusions: The PRELSA Scale shows promising properties that have the potential to measure obesogenic behaviors in Spain, which could be the basis for future interventions associated with the prevention of childhood obesity in healthcare and educational settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eating Behaviors in Children and Teens)
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12 pages, 1953 KiB  
Article
Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in Anorexia Nervosa: A Case Report and a Systematic Revision of the Literature
by Elena Bozzola, Mariangela Irrera, Flavia Cirillo, Valeria Zanna, Italo Petrelli, Antonella Diamanti, Ylenia Scire, Jibin Park, Alessandra Marchesi, Maria Rosaria Marchili and Alberto Villani
Nutrients 2024, 16(4), 541; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16040541 - 16 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1838
Abstract
Background. Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) is a rare condition caused by the compression of the duodenum, which may occur in the case of fast weight loss. Currently, the relationship between superior mesenteric artery syndrome and anorexia nervosa is still unclear. The aim [...] Read more.
Background. Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) is a rare condition caused by the compression of the duodenum, which may occur in the case of fast weight loss. Currently, the relationship between superior mesenteric artery syndrome and anorexia nervosa is still unclear. The aim of this study is to identify the precocious clinical signs and symptoms of SMAS in patients affected by anorexia nervosa so as not to delay the diagnosis. Methods. We present the clinical case of a young female patient with anorexia nervosa complicated by SMAS. We performed a literature review of SMAS in children affected by anorexia nervosa between 1962 and 2023, according to the PRISMA Extension Guide for Scoping Reviews. Results. Reviewing the literature, 11 clinical cases were described for the pediatric age. The median age at diagnosis was 17 years (ranging from 13 to 18 years). The diagnosis of SMAS may be challenging as symptoms overlap those of anorexia, but it should be kept in mind mostly in cases of post-prandial abdominal pain, anxiety or depression, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Conclusion. Even specific clinical symptoms may act as flag tags to drive attention to this rare but potentially fatal condition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eating Behaviors in Children and Teens)
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