The relationship between eating behavior, depresiion, and biochemical parameters in overweight and obese children; a cross-sectional study

OpenAlex İngilizce

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between emotional eating behavior and insulin resistance in obese children. Psychosocial factors and eating behaviors accompanying obesity play an important role in the development of metabolic disorders. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was designed to investigate the relationship between body mass index, insulin resistance level, and eating behavior in 101 children aged 12 years and older who attended the pediatric outpatient clinic of İzmir Çiğli Training and Research Hospital. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, and psychosocial assessments of the included children were obtained using standardized methods. The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) was used to assess eating behavior, and the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) was used to determine depression levels. Findings: Based on the obtained data, significant relationships were found between insulin resistance and emotional eating behavior in obese children. Furthermore, depression levels and restrictive eating behaviors were also found to be associated with metabolic indicators. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that the relationship between eating behavior and insulin resistance in obese children requires clinical consideration. These findings highlight the importance of psychosocial factors and eating behavior characteristics in obesity management.