Contribution of Eating Behaviours to Glucose Dysmetabolism

The contribution of eating behaviors (EBs) and their psychological constructs to glucose dysmetabolism is still debated. To investigate this issue we conducted a cross-sectional study on 4095 subjects seeking a weight loss program, (71.5% females and 71%% of subjects overweight or obese). Serum glucose and insulin were measured, and HOMA (HI) index was calculated. Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was defined as a serum glucose ≥100 mg/dL. EBs were investigated using the Binge Eating Scale (BES) and the Eating Disorder Inventory 3 (EDI3). Raw scores for binge eating behavior (BE) bulimia (B), drive for thickness (DT) and body dissatisfaction (BD) were calculated. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models, adjusted for sex, age, BMI, smoking and physical activity were used to assess the association of BES and EDI3 with serum glucose, HI and the risk of IFG, respectively. BES score and EDI3 scales were not associated with serum glucose and HI, whereas DT (-0.1 mg/dL, CI 95%:-0.17,-0.04; for 1-point increment in DT scale) and BD (-0.18 mg/dL, CI95%:-0.24,-0.12; for 1-point increment in BD scale) scales were slightly and inversely associated with serum glucose. BE, B and DT were not associated with IFG. Only subjects experiencing BD had a lower risk of IFG (OR=0.72, CI95%:0.61,0.85).

In conclusion, given the very small effect size, BE, B and DT do not seem to contribute in biologically meaningful manner with glucose profile and IFG risk, whereas BD is associated with a lower risk of IFG. Further study to investigate the effect of BD on food habits and dietary pattern are needed to better understand the contribution of psychological constructs of EBs on glucose dysmetabolism.