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. 2023 Jan 6:10:1056123.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1056123. eCollection 2022.

Prediction of body fat increase from food addiction scale in school-aged children and adolescents: A longitudinal cross-lagged study

Dan Wang  1 , Hui Zhou  2 , Yuzheng Hu  2 , Yanfen Che  1 , Xian Ye  1 , Junqing Chen  1 , Junfen Fu  1 , Hongzhen Xu  1
Affiliations

Prediction of body fat increase from food addiction scale in school-aged children and adolescents: A longitudinal cross-lagged study

Dan Wang et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Objective: Food addiction (FA) is associated with a higher body mass index z-score (BMIZ) in children and adolescents; however, whether these two aspects evolve interdependently remains unknown. This study aimed to address this question using a cross-lagged study.

Methods: Weight status, including BMIZ, fat content (FC), and visceral fat level (VFL), was determined in 880 children and adolescents (mean age = 14.02 years [range = 8.83-17.52 years]) at two-time points with an interval of 6 months. FA was characterized using the Chinese version of the dimensional Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children 2.0. Furthermore, FC and VFL were measured using direct segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis at each time point.

Results: Higher FA was associated with increased BMIZ, FC, and VFL (P < 0.05). FA at T0 could predict increased FC at T1 (P < 0.05). The characteristics of females, primary students, and living in urban areas may aggravate the adverse effect of FA on weight status over time and age, particularly the increased VFL in participants aged > 14 years.

Conclusion: Children and adolescents with a high FA level were at risk for weight gain attributed to increased FC, and the adverse effect could be aggravated with time and age. Novel FA-targeting interventions may help mitigate the risk of getting obesity.

Keywords: adolescents; body composition; children; cross-lagged analysis; food addiction; longitudinal study; obesity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The flow chart of enrolment.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The moderate roles of participants' characteristics between FA and weight status (BMIZ, FC, and VFL). The “↑” indicates that this characteristic could aggravate the effect of FA on weight status characterized by BMIZ, FC, and VFL. The bold “↑” indicates more significant effect. FA, food addiction; BMIZ, body mass index z-score; FC, fat content; VFL, fat level.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A–C) Temporal and causal relationships between FA and weight status. The P-values are presented in brackets. The concert line indicates a significant pathway, whereas the dashed line indicates a nonsignificant pathway. FA, food addiction; BMIZ, body mass index z-score; FC, fat content; VFL, visceral fat level.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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