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Impact of Eating Disorders and Obesity on Quality of Life...
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Impact of Eating Disorders and Obesity on Quality of Life and Mental Health

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 July 2025 | Viewed by 1854

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Fernando Fernandez-Aranda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Clinical Psychology Department, University Hospital of Bellvitge, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
2. Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: clinical psychology; psychobiology; mental disorders; eating disorders; obesity; neurocognition; behavioral addictions; therapy and new technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Eating disorders and obesity are health conditions that affect the general population regardless of social class or educational background. They are mostly prevalent in early adolescence and early adulthood and have serious consequences for individual, relational, and social functioning. Although seemingly independent, the two conditions often interact and affect the individual’s quality of life and their physical and health statuses. The longer the duration of the disorder and/or disease, the greater the severity of the condition and the poorer the mental state of the affected individual. In this Special Issue, we aim to highlight aspects relevant to eating disorders and obesity, such as quality of life, complications of mental and somatic states, sleep disturbance, and the impact of the disorder’s and/or disease’s duration on the clinical presentation and possible approaches to mitigate its effects. We are interested in holistic, multidisciplinary contributions with a transdiagnostic perspective and the interactions between eating disorders and obesity.

Prof. Dr. Fernando Fernandez-Aranda
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • eating disorder
  • obesity
  • mental health
  • sleeping disturbances
  • duration of the disorder
  • transdiagnostic approach
  • quality of life

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 379 KiB  
Article
“Inside the Gut–Brain Axis”: Psychological Profiles of Adolescents with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and with Restrictive Eating Disorders
by Anna Riva, Gabriele Arienti, Giovanna Zuin, Laura Spini, Naire Sansotta, Andrea Eugenio Cavanna and Renata Nacinovich
Nutrients 2025, 17(10), 1706; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17101706 - 17 May 2025
Viewed by 109
Abstract
Background: Individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) have an increased risk of developing psychiatric co-morbidities, including restrictive eating disorders (REDs), with which they share common pathogenic mechanisms, including gut–brain axis dysregulation. We conducted a case–control study systematically exploring the psychopathological profiles and [...] Read more.
Background: Individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) have an increased risk of developing psychiatric co-morbidities, including restrictive eating disorders (REDs), with which they share common pathogenic mechanisms, including gut–brain axis dysregulation. We conducted a case–control study systematically exploring the psychopathological profiles and alexithymia in adolescents with IBDs compared with a clinical group of adolescents diagnosed with REDs in order to test the hypothesis of common psychological characteristics between the two patient populations. Methods: We recruited 76 patients with IBDs and 76 age-matched controls with REDs (64 adolescents with anorexia nervosa and 12 adolescents with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder). All participants completed a validated psychometric battery assessing psychological symptoms (SCL-90-R), ED features (EDI-3), and alexithymia (TAS-20). Comprehensive socio-demographic and clinical data were extracted from the medical records. Results: A total of 12 patients with IBDs (15.8%) scored higher than the cut-off (>70th percentile) on the EDI-3 scale for Eating Disorder Risk (EDI-EDRC), with a psychological profile comparable to RED patients. Female gender (OR = 0.133, p = 0.020) and longer disease duration (OR = 1.055, p = 0.036) were identified as significant risk factors for the development of EDs. Conclusions: Our findings suggest common psychological traits between patients with REDs and patients with IBDs at risk of developing EDs during adolescence, highlighting the need for early screening for EDs in patients with IBDs who present with specific socio-demographic and disease characteristics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Eating Disorders and Obesity on Quality of Life and Mental Health)
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16 pages, 406 KiB  
Article
Implementation Insights from the PEACE Pathway Across UK Eating Disorder Services
by Kate Tchanturia, Dimitri Chubinidze, Fiona Duffy, Emy Nimbley, Zhuo Li and Joanna Holliday
Nutrients 2025, 17(9), 1532; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091532 - 30 Apr 2025
Viewed by 551
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Autistic individuals with eating disorders (ED) face socio-emotional, sensory, and communication difficulties that influence engagement and treatment outcomes. We examined how the PEACE Pathway—an autism-informed approach to ED treatment—addresses these challenges through tailored adaptations in clinical care. Methods: A qualitative multiple case [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Autistic individuals with eating disorders (ED) face socio-emotional, sensory, and communication difficulties that influence engagement and treatment outcomes. We examined how the PEACE Pathway—an autism-informed approach to ED treatment—addresses these challenges through tailored adaptations in clinical care. Methods: A qualitative multiple case studies design was employed, drawing data from clinical documentation, stakeholder feedback, and service evaluations. Results: We identified eight core domains essential for implementation: pathway knowledge, assessment and planning, psychological interventions, sensory management, nutritional care, lived-experience feedback, family/community engagement, and staff training. These domains informed the development of the PEACE Self-Assessment Checklist to support the wider adoption of the pathway. Conclusions: The PEACE Pathway offers a structured approach to adapting ED treatment for autistic individuals. The checklist provides practical guidance for implementing autism-friendly adaptions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Eating Disorders and Obesity on Quality of Life and Mental Health)
20 pages, 763 KiB  
Article
Exploring Food Addiction Across Several Behavioral Addictions: Analysis of Clinical Relevance
by Anahí Gaspar-Pérez, Roser Granero, Fernando Fernández-Aranda, Magda Rosinska, Cristina Artero, Silvia Ruiz-Torras, Ashley N Gearhardt, Zsolt Demetrovics, Joan Guàrdia-Olmos and Susana Jiménez-Murcia
Nutrients 2025, 17(7), 1279; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17071279 - 6 Apr 2025
Viewed by 761
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Recently, interest in studying food addiction (FA) in the context of behavioral addictions (BAs) has increased. However, research remains limited to determine the FA prevalence among various BAs. The current study aimed to investigate FA in a clinical sample of patients seeking [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Recently, interest in studying food addiction (FA) in the context of behavioral addictions (BAs) has increased. However, research remains limited to determine the FA prevalence among various BAs. The current study aimed to investigate FA in a clinical sample of patients seeking treatment for gaming disorder, compulsive buying-shopping disorder (CBSD), compulsive sexual behavior disorder, and the comorbid presence of multiple BAs, as well as to determine the sociodemographic characteristics, personality traits, and general psychopathology of this clinical population. In addition, we analyzed whether FA is linked to a higher mean body mass index (BMI). Methods: The sample included 209 patients (135 men and 74 women) attending a specialized behavioral addiction unit. The assessment included a semi-structured clinical interview for the diagnosis of the abovementioned BAs, in addition to self-reported psychometric assessments for FA (using the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2. 0, YFAS-2), CBSD (using the Pathological Buying Screener, PBS), general psychopathology (using the Symptom Checklist-Revised, SCL-90-R), personality traits (using the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised, TCI-R), emotional regulation (using Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Strategies, DERS), and impulsivity (using Impulsive Behavior Scale, UPPS-P). The comparison between the groups for the clinical profile was performed using logistic regression (categorical variables) and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), adjusted based on the patients’ gender. The sociodemographic profile was based on chi-square tests for categorical variables and analysis of variance (ANOVA) for quantitative measures. Results: The prevalence of FA in the total sample was 22.49%. The highest prevalence of FA was observed in CBSD (31.3%), followed by gaming disorder (24.7%), and the comorbid presence of multiple BAs (14.3%). No group differences (FA+/−) were found in relation to sociodemographic variables, but the comorbidity between FA and any BA was associated more with females as well as having greater general psychopathology, greater emotional dysregulation, higher levels of impulsivity, and a higher mean BMI. Conclusions: The comorbidity between FA and BA is high compared to previous studies (22.49%), and it is also associated with greater severity and dysfunctionality. Emotional distress levels were high, which suggests that the group with this comorbidity may be employing FA behaviors to cope with psychological distress. However, a better understanding of the latent mechanisms that contribute to the progression of this multifaceted comorbid clinical disorder is needed. One aspect that future studies could consider is to explore the existence of FA symptoms early and routinely in patients with BAs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Eating Disorders and Obesity on Quality of Life and Mental Health)
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