Apple or pear? The shape of the abdomen affects eating control

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In some people, fatty tissue accumulates in the middle of the body: medical professionals call them apple types, compared to the pear types, which tend to attach to the hips, buttocks and thighs. The apple type is more prone to various health problems - for example, cardiovascular diseases. However, this particular fat distribution could also influence eating behavior: At least women with an apple figure are more likely to lose control over how much they eat.

Lost control

Such a loss of control is typical of eating disorders in which those affected consume large amounts of food in a seizure-like manner - for example, binge eating or bulimia. "Fat storage in the middle of the body could be an important risk factor for the development of such eating disorders, especially in relation to loss of control while eating," says nutrition psychologist Laura Berner of Drexel University in Philadelphia.

So far, there are hardly any biologically measurable factors that indicate an increased risk of eating disorders. A stronger fat storage in the abdominal region could be one of these - and help to identify people at risk and to intervene more quickly in the event of a derailment of eating behavior. "If a disordered eating behavior is discovered early, the chances of successful treatment are considerably better," says Berner.

The decisive factor is where the fat stores are located

The scientist examined the connection between body shape and eating disorders in around 300 female students. None of them had an eating disorder at the start of the study. Over the course of the 24-month study period, women who accumulated more fat in the abdominal region reported increasing loss of control while eating. This was not the case with women who only gained weight overall.

In addition, women with more central fat stores tended to be less satisfied with their bodies and more likely to have depressive symptoms than women with a more pear-shaped body fat distribution.

At the beginning of the study and then again after six and 24 months, the researcher and her colleagues determined the size, weight and body fat percentage and fat distribution of the test subjects. They also ask them about their eating habits - especially about moments when they lost control of the amount of food they ate. They also checked psychological parameters such as satisfaction with their own body and depressive symptoms.

Disturbed hunger signals

"It is conceivable that central body fat storage is not only psychologically stressful, but also has a biological influence," says Berner. "Fat cells release hormones that signal the brain how hungry or full we are," the researcher continues. Disruption of this pathway could cause a person to feel out of control while eating.

However, there are no corresponding measurements of messenger substances in the women examined. In this respect, it cannot be said whether and to what extent corresponding hormone levels actually differ in women with different fat storage patterns, or whether these changed with increasing body fat storage in the abdominal region.

Measure your waist circumference correctly

The body fat in the abdominal region is now considered a more meaningful risk factor for vascular diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes than the body mass index (BMI). For women, the waist circumference should be less than 88 cm, for men less than 102 cm. In order to get reliable values, you should always measure the circumference in the morning before breakfast - undressed. You should look in a mirror so that the measuring tape is correctly positioned. The largest extent is always measured. For most people, this is navel level. (cf)

Source: Laura Berner et al .: Examination of central body fat deposition as a risk factor for loss-of-control eating, Am J Clin Nutr 2015 102: 4 736-744; First published online September 9, 2015.

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