The longitudinal impact of individual and parental emotional factors and individual behavioral factors on weight and disordered eating: A scoping review

BACKGROUND: Emotional and behavioral problems during childhood and adolescence play a significant role in the development of disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) and weight problems later in life. Understanding these trajectories is essential for early prevention and intervention efforts. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to map the existing literature on how individual and parental emotional factors, as well as individual behavioral factors, influence the development of weight problems and DEBs over time in children, adolescents and young adults. METHODS: This scoping review encompasses longitudinal, follow-up, and prospective studies published in peer-reviewed journals. Eligible studies involve children, adolescents, or young adults (aged 10-24 years) without pre-existing DEBs or weight problems at intake. RESULTS: We identified 100 studies across four databases. Depression, including depressive symptoms, as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were found to have significant associations with later development of both DEBs and weight problems. There was limited evidence of an association between anxiety, anxiety symptoms, as well as general psychological distress, and later development of DEBs and weight problems, as these findings were inconsistent and mixed. Few studies assessed the association between parental emotional factors on the development of DEBs and weight problems in their children, and the results were thus inconclusive. CONCLUSION: Existing evidence shows that depression and ADHD are relevant factors associated with the development of DEBs and weight problems. These might be important targets for early intervention and prevention. There is a lack of evidence regarding the potential link between anxiety and parental emotional factors, and the development of DEBs and weight problems during late childhood and young adulthood. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current evidence base, identifying key knowledge gaps, and thereby informing future research and prevention strategies targeting emotional and behavioral risk factors for DEBs and weight problems.