Associations Between Neural Reward Processing and Binge Eating Among Adolescent Girls. (2017)

J Adolesc Health. 2017 Oct 17. pii: S1054-139X(17)30415-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.08.006.

Bodell LP1, Wildes JE2, Goldschmidt AB3, Lepage R4, Keenan KE2, Guyer AE5, Hipwell AE4, Stepp SD4, Forbes EE4.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Neuroimaging studies suggest that altered brain responses to food-related cues in reward-sensitive regions characterize individuals who experience binge-eating episodes. However, the absence of longitudinal data limits the understanding of whether reward-system alterations increase vulnerability to binge eating, as theorized in models of the development of this behavior.

METHODS:

Adolescent girls (N = 122) completed a functional magnetic resonance imaging monetary reward task at age 16 years as part of an ongoing longitudinal study. Self-report of binge eating was assessed using the Eating Attitudes Test at ages 16 and 18 years. Regression analyses examined concurrent and longitudinal associations between the blood-oxygenation-level-dependent response to anticipating and winning monetary rewards and the severity of binge eating while controlling for age 16 depressive symptoms and socioeconomic status.

RESULTS:

Greater ventromedial prefrontal cortex and caudate responses to winning money were correlated with greater severity of binge eating concurrently but not prospectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study is the first to examine longitudinal associations between reward responding and binge eating in community-based, mostly low-socioeconomic status adolescent girls. Ventromedial prefrontal cortex response to reward outcome-possibly reflecting an enhanced subjective reward value-appears to be a state marker of binge-eating severity rather than a predictor of future severity.

KEYWORDS:  Adolescents; Binge eating; Disordered eating; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Reward

PMID: 29054735

DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.08.006