Childhood overweight is related to higher sensitivity for external food cues and less responsiveness towards internal satiety signals. Thus, cognitive psychological models assume an enhanced food attention bias underlying overeating behavior. Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents have increased dramatically. Childhood obesity is one of the most demanding and challenging public health issues of the 21st century. About 40 to 50 million children under the age of five are considered to be overweight in both developing and developed countries. Obesity is associated with a long list of both immediate and long-term physical as well as psychological health consequences, such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, stigmatization or poor self-esteem. Therefore, medical and psychological research is especially interested in investigating its causes and mediating factors. The impact of genetic factors and social primitive factors like the socioeconomic status (SES) or a global shift towards an energy-dense diet with less physical activity in combination with an increased media use are well explored and replicated. But, these factors are not explanatory on their own. Possible psychosocial factors in the development and maintenance of childhood obesity have therefore been brought into focus. In general, overweight and obese individuals tend to overeat, especially high calorie food.
Increased Attentional Bias towards Food Pictures in Overweight and Obese Children
Anne Koch
Last date updated on September, 2024