Trauma and obesity : what do we know, what are we missing and how can we help?

Abstract

Obesity has been found to be one of the leading causes of preventable death in the world and research has regularly supported the notion that individuals who report experiencing childhood abuse or household dysfunction have an increased risk of developing disordered eating behaviours and/or obesity. The relationship between experiences of adversity and obesity has been widely researched however it continues to constitute an urgent public health problem. It is also evident that the relationship between trauma and obesity may be influenced by one’s coping strategies and emotion regulation. It is important to consider all the factors that could result in increased disordered eating behaviours and the longer-term development of obesity. Emotion regulation, depression and anxiety have often been associated with experiences of adverse childhood events and disordered eating behaviours separately, with some research looking at these as mediators however with inconclusive findings. Importantly, when considering these factors, emotional eating should also be examined. It is also vital to identify whether experiences of emotions that are less common or more uncomfortable changes the impact of emotional eating. Furthering our understanding of these topics will directly informs the development of interventions specifically designed for this population. This research aimed to further our understanding of the relationship between trauma and eating behaviours, and more specifically looking at connections with the development of obesity in adulthood. Moreover, this project had four main objectives within the overall aim. Firstly, this project aimed to investigate whether any adverse life experiences, in childhood or throughout the lifetime, would increase disordered eating pathology and BMI. Secondly, this project aimed to determine whether depression, anxiety, and emotion regulation were mediating factors in the relationship between adverse life experiences, both in childhood and throughout the lifetime, and disordered eating pathology and BMI. Thirdly, this project aimed to further the understanding of the implications of emotional eating in response to anger. Lastly, this project aimed to determine whether a trauma-informed schema therapy intervention could be effective in assisting with psychological distress, eating behaviours, and long-term weight loss in individuals with obesity and a history of trauma. Overall, the present research project found overarching support for the relationship between adverse life experiences and the increased risk of developing disordered eating and obesity in adulthood. It also provided further understanding of underlying mechanisms and potential interventions to improve overall well-being for this population.

Date of Award	2022
Original language	English