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The Impact of Depression and Cognitive Dietary Restraint on the Association between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Disordered Eating Behaviors
Title
The Impact of Depression and Cognitive Dietary Restraint on the Association between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Disordered Eating Behaviors
Creator
Schwartz, Natalie
Date
2020
Description
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by loud snoring and repeated episodes of obstruction in the upper airway during sleep that...
Show moreObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by loud snoring and repeated episodes of obstruction in the upper airway during sleep that cause partial or total stop in the airflow, often resulting in short, disruptive sleep. Sleep disruption as a result of OSA has been shown to result in reduced cognitive functioning and disordered eating behaviors, however, few studies to date have sought to determine whether OSA is associated with disordered eating behaviors. Bariatric patients are asked to restrict their food intake prior to surgery; however, restraint theory suggests that the eating behavior of those intending to restrict their intake can be disinhibited by a variety of conditions, which cause the restrained eater to engage in disinhibited and overeating behaviors. Depression has also demonstrated an association with disordered eating behaviors and cognitive dysfunction. Affect regulation theory is often cited as a possible explanation for this association, with the desire to avoid unpleasant affective states resulting in disordered eating behaviors. A sample of 93 bariatric surgery candidates were recruited from an academic medical center in a large metropolitan city to participate in the current study. Participants were recruited during their routine pre-surgical assessment for bariatric surgery and completed measures of disordered eating and depression. Both body mass index and diagnosis of OSA were obtained from patient medical chart. It was hypothesized that the presence of OSA would be related to higher levels of disordered eating behaviors, including disinhibited eating, frequency of loss of control and frequency of binge eating. Additionally, it was hypothesized that cognitive dietary restraint would moderate the association between OSA and disordered eating in bariatric patients, such that the greater the intent to strictly control food intake (i.e., greater cognitive dietary restraint), the more strongly sleep disturbance will be associated with disordered eating. Finally, it was hypothesized that depression would mediate the association between OSA and disordered eating in bariatric patients, such that depressive symptomatology accounts for the relation between OSA and disordered eating behaviors. Results indicated that the presence of OSA was not related to higher levels of disordered eating behaviors, nor did depression mediate the association between OSA and the disordered eating outcomes. Two of the moderation models were significant, including the disinhibited eating model and the frequency of loss of control over eating model. Although bariatric patients are encouraged to restrict their food intake, findings suggested that restraint does not appear to function as intended in reducing disinhibited eating behaviors in individuals with OSA. The findings for the loss of control model supported restraint theory and suggested that those with OSA who also endorse high restraint are at increased risk for experiencing loss of control over eating, whereas those who do not have cognitive dysfunction associated with OSA may or may not exhibit the same association. The current study highlights the impact of restraint on bariatric patients’ disordered eating behaviors, suggesting that restraint theory may not be entirely applicable to bariatric populations and may depend on the disordered eating behavior being examined. The current study also points to numerous gaps in the current literature and provides future directions for research on OSA and disordered eating in bariatric populations.
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Examining Racial Differences in Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating Following Media Exposure of a Curvaceous Body Ideal
Title
Examining Racial Differences in Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating Following Media Exposure of a Curvaceous Body Ideal
Creator
Dorsaint, Talissa
Date
2021
Description
Previous research has found that internalization of a thin body ideal contributes to negative cognitive and behavioral symptoms, such as body...
Show morePrevious research has found that internalization of a thin body ideal contributes to negative cognitive and behavioral symptoms, such as body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. However, studies supporting a sociocultural model have typically included mostly White samples. Research suggests that there may be racial differences in body dissatisfaction and disordered eating among Black and White women, specifically that Black women may be protected from body dissatisfaction via the buffering hypothesis. However, studies have found that differences in body dissatisfaction between Black and White women are smaller than previously thought. Additionally, Black women do not feel represented in the mainstream media on the basis of their physical appearance and ascribed ideals when exposed to thin ideals. Research is needed to examine the impact of other ideals (e.g., the curvaceous body ideal) on body dissatisfaction, as well as body dissatisfaction for Black women in Western culture. The present study used an experimental design to examine differences in body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors in a community sample of Black and White self-identified women before and after exposure to a thin or curvaceous body ideal. Participants were randomized to a thin ideal or curvaceous ideal condition. All participants completed a demographic questionnaire, baseline measures of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating and Visual Analog Scales before and after viewing thin or curvaceous images. Findings indicated no racial differences in baseline body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Additionally, associations between baseline body dissatisfaction and disordered eating were significant and align with previous research, but an effect of condition was found on body satisfaction change scores. No statistically significant interaction was found between race and body ideal condition for body dissatisfaction change scores. Finally, change scores of body dissatisfaction measures were not statistically different from pre- to post-exposure of either thin or curvy body ideal conditions. Findings have significant implications for the buffering hypothesis and add to studies that have found small racial differences in body dissatisfaction. Present findings also have implications for assessment and treatment in overall eating pathology as seen by the Sociocultural Model in Black women.
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