Increased brain and behavioural susceptibility to portion size in children with loss of control eating

• Published in: Pediatric obesity 2019-02, Vol.14 (2), p.e12436-n/a
• Main Authors: English, L. K., Masterson, T. D., Fearnbach, S. N., Tanofsky‐Kraff, M., Fisher, J., Wilson, S. J., Rolls, B. J., Keller, K. L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthropometry; Brain; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain - physiology; Child; Children & youth; Childrens health; Cross-Over Studies; Cues; Eating - physiology; Eating behavior; Feeding Behavior - physiology; Female; Food; Humans; loss of control; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; neuroimaging; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Obesity; Pediatrics; Portion Size
• ISSN: 2047-6302; 2047-6310
• DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12436

Summary Background Portion size influences intake (i.e. the portion size effect [PSE]), yet determinants of susceptibility to the PSE are unclear. Objective We tested whether children who reported an episode of loss of control (LOC) eating over the last 3 months would be more susceptible to the PSE and would show differential brain responses to food cues compared with children with no‐LOC. Methods Across five sessions, children (n = 47; 7–10 years) consumed four test meals at 100%, 133%, 167% and 200% conditions for portion size and completed a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan while viewing pictures of foods varied by portion size and energy density (ED). Incidence of LOC over the past 3 months was self‐reported. Random coefficient models were tested for differences in the shape of the PSE curve by LOC status. A whole‐brain analysis was conducted to determine response to food cues during the functional magnetic resonance imaging. Results Reported LOC (n = 13) compared with no‐LOC (n = 34) was associated with increased susceptibility to the PSE, as evidenced by a positive association with the linear slope (P