The Association between Disordered Eating Behavior and Body Image Biological Maturation and Levels of Adipocytokines in Preadolescent Girls: The Healthy Growth Study
Emilia Vassilopoulou,
Vasilios Tsironis,
Eva Karaglani,
Katerina Sarapis,
Emmanouela Vasileiadi,
Christina Mavrogianni,
Giorgos Chouliaras,
Yannis Manios,
George Moschonis
Affiliations
Emilia Vassilopoulou
Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Vasilios Tsironis
Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
Eva Karaglani
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, 70 El Venizelou Avenue, 17671 Athens, Greece
Katerina Sarapis
Department of Dietetics, Nutrition and Sport, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia
Emmanouela Vasileiadi
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, 70 El Venizelou Avenue, 17671 Athens, Greece
Christina Mavrogianni
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, 70 El Venizelou Avenue, 17671 Athens, Greece
Giorgos Chouliaras
2nd Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece
Yannis Manios
Hellenic Mediterranean University Research Centre, Institute of Agri-Food and Life Sciences, 71410 Heraklion, Greece
George Moschonis
Department of Dietetics, Nutrition and Sport, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia
During puberty, rapid, complex hormonal, physical and cognitive changes occur that affect body image and eating behavior. The aim of this cross-sectional study, a secondary analysis of data from the Greek Healthy Growth Study, was to explore associations of disordered eating behaviors and body image in 1206 10–12-year-old girls during pubertal maturation, with serum leptin and adiponectin levels, according to body mass index (BMI). Eating behavior and disordered eating were assessed with the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) and the Children Eating Attitudes Test Questionnaire (ChEAT), respectively. Associations of components of DEBQ and ChEAT with maturation according to Tanner Stage (TS) and levels of leptin and adiponectin were explored by univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Adiponectin levels in girls at TS 1 were positively associated with the “social pressure to eat” score of ChEAT. Leptin levels in girls at TS 4 were positively correlated with the “restraint eating” score of DEBQ, and the “dieting”, “body image” and “food awareness” scores of ChEAT. After adjustment for TS and BMI, only “body image” and leptin remained significant. Further research may shed light on how these hormonal changes affect eating behaviors at various pubertal stages, contributing to “TS-specific” preventive strategies for eating disorders in girls.
