New research led by King’s College London discovers the role of brain development in disordered eating behaviors among young adults, paving the way for personalized prevention strategies.
Over half of 23-year-olds in a European survey exhibit restrictive, emotional or uncontrolled eating behaviors, according to recent findings from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London. The study, published in Nature Mental Health, reveals that structural brain differences significantly influence the development of these behaviors.
The researchers scrutinized data from 996 adolescents participating in the IMAGEN longitudinal cohort across England, Ireland, France and Germany. The participants supplied genetic information, completed well-being and eating behavior questionnaires, and underwent MRI scans at ages 14 and 23. At 23, they were grouped into healthy eaters (42%), restrictive eaters (33%) and emotional or uncontrolled eaters (25%).
The inquiry indicates that the process of brain maturation, characterized by the reduction in volume and thickness of the cortex during adolescence, is crucial in determining eating behaviors in young adulthood.
“Our findings reveal how delayed brain maturation during adolescence links genetics, mental health challenges and disordered eating behaviors in young adulthood, emphasizing the critical role of brain development in shaping eating habits,” first author Xinyang Yu, a doctoral student at King’s IoPPN, said in a news release.
The study observed that adolescents with unhealthful eating habits (restrictive or emotional/uncontrolled) faced higher internalizing (e.g., anxiety, depression) and externalizing (e.g., hyperactivity, inattention) problems at 14. These issues persisted, with internalizing problems intensifying over time. Unhealthy eating was also associated with obesity and higher genetic risks for high BMI.
“We must improve education aimed at addressing unhealthy dietary habits and maladaptive coping strategies. This could play a crucial role in preventing eating disorders and supporting overall brain health,” added senior author Sylvane Desrivières, a professor of biological psychiatry at King’s IoPPN.
Further MRI analyses showed that delayed brain maturation played a pivotal role in the trajectory from mental health difficulties at 14 to the emergence of unhealthy eating behaviors at 23. Reduced maturation, particularly in the cerebellum, which governs appetite, elucidated the connection between genetic risk for high BMI and restrictive eating at 23.
“By showing that different unhealthy eating behaviors are linked to differential trajectories of mental health symptoms and brain development, our findings may inform the design of more personalized interventions,” added co-author Zuo Zhang, a research fellow at King’s IoPPN.
This research underscores the interaction between brain development, genetics and mental health in contributing to eating disorders. The findings could lead to more tailored approaches to addressing and preventing disordered eating in young adults.