Amélie Rousseau

Quality of life in overweight and obese children and adolescents: a literature review

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to present a literature review on quality-of-life (QOL) assessment in overweight or obese children and adolescents in order to identify the most affected dimensions and better understand associated factors.MethodsThe ERIC, FRANCIS, MEDLINE, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, and Academic Search Premier databases were searched for articles reporting cross-sectional QOL studies in obese children and adolescents published in English before January 2013. The reference lists of retained articles were also screened.ResultsAmong the 34 articles retained for the analysis, only three did not report lower QOL among obese youth. Clinical populations appeared to be more affected than the general population. Several variables were associated with QOL such as self-image, bullying, bodily pain, quality of food intake, physical activity, screen time, parents’ educational level, and weight status.ConclusionsIdentifying variables associated with lower QOL in obese children and adolescents offers new perspectives for prevention and care. Further research is needed to better elucidate these findings. Better understanding QOL is a key element essential for the treatment for childhood and adolescent obesity.

Étude de validation de la version française du body shape questionnaire

Resume Le but de l’etude est l’adaptation, en langue francaise, d’un questionnaire anglosaxon d’insatisfaction corporelle : Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ, Cooper et al., 1987) et de tester sa fidelite et sa validite concourante sur un echantillon de 242 etudiantes. Les relations entre les categories de poids et l’insatisfaction corporelle et les facteurs issus de l’analyse factorielle ont ete explorees.Nous avons procede au calcul des coefficients alpha, a un test de fiabilite test-retest et a une analyse factorielle. La validite concourante du BSQ a ete evaluee a partir de la comparaison avec un autre test : l’Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI, Garner et Olmsted, 1984). Enfin, des analyses statistiques inferentielles (Anova) ont ete realisees.Les coefficients alpha relatifs au test/retest du BSQ sont eleves (0,95/0,94) ainsi que ceux pour le test/retest de l’EDI (0,85/0,84). Ces resultats mettent en evidence une tres bonne consistance interne des 2 instruments. L’analyse factorielle en composantes principales suggere une solution a 4 facteurs : evitement et honte sociale de l’exposition du corps, insatisfaction corporelle par rapport aux parties inferieures du corps, usage de laxatifs et de vomissements pour reduire l’insatisfaction corporelle, cognitions et comportements inadaptes afin de controler le poids. Ces 4 facteurs expliquent 55,2 % de la variance totale. Les analyses statistiques inferentielles ont mis en evidence une relation significative entre la categorie de poids et le score total au BSQ et entre la categorie de poids et le score sous les facteurs 1, 2 et 4.La version francaise du BSQ se presente comme un instrument ayant de bonnes qualites metrologiques. Il permettrait d’explorer le role d’une preoccupation excessive de l’apparence du corps dans le developpement, le maintien et le traitement des troubles du comportement alimentaire.

Self-reported dependence on mobile phones in young adults: a European cross-cultural empirical survey

Background and aims Despite many positive benefits, mobile phone use can be associated with harmful and detrimental behaviors. The aim of this study was twofold: to examine (a) cross-cultural patterns of perceived dependence on mobile phones in ten European countries, first, grouped in four different regions (North: Finland and UK; South: Spain and Italy; East: Hungary and Poland; West: France, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland), and second by country, and (b) how socio-demographics, geographic differences, mobile phone usage patterns, and associated activities predicted this perceived dependence. Methods A sample of 2,775 young adults (aged 18–29 years) were recruited in different European Universities who participated in an online survey. Measures included socio-demographic variables, patterns of mobile phone use, and the dependence subscale of a short version of the Problematic Mobile Phone Use Questionnaire (PMPUQ; Billieux, Van der Linden, & Rochat, 2008). Results The young adults from the Northern and Southern regions reported the heaviest use of mobile phones, whereas perceived dependence was less prevalent in the Eastern region. However, the proportion of highly dependent mobile phone users was more elevated in Belgium, UK, and France. Regression analysis identified several risk factors for increased scores on the PMPUQ dependence subscale, namely using mobile phones daily, being female, engaging in social networking, playing video games, shopping and viewing TV shows through the Internet, chatting and messaging, and using mobile phones for downloading-related activities. Discussion and conclusions Self-reported dependence on mobile phone use is influenced by frequency and specific application usage.

Comparaison du vécu corporel en fonction du genre chez l'adolescent et le jeune adulte

Resume Cette etude a pour objectif d’evaluer le vecu de l’apparence corporelle relatif au genre. 590 adolescents et jeunes adultes ont repondu a un auto-questionnaire evaluant la satisfaction corporelle, le desir de minceur, les zones corporelles souhaitees plus minces ou musculairement plus volumineuses ou plus toniques, ainsi que les moyens envisages ou utilises pour obtenir les modifications souhaitees. Il apparait que les filles sont plus insatisfaites que les garcons de leur apparence corporelle, de leur poids et des differentes parties de leurs corps.

A study of the face validity of the 40 item version of the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40).

There are few studies examining the face validity of the 40-item version of the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40). Moreover, the existing studies have provided conflicting results. The present study provides an in-depth examination of the face validity of the DSQ-40. Eight clinicians independently attributed each item of the DSQ-40 to a defense mechanism. The defense mechanisms listed in the DSM-IV Defensive Functioning Scale and their definitions were provided as a guide, along with the definition of those defense mechanisms investigated by the DSQ that are not included. It was further specified that the raters could attribute the items to defense mechanisms other than those listed or coping mechanisms. Twelve items out of 40 (30%) were attributed to the defense mechanisms they were supposed to investigate by fewer than four out of the eight raters. This result suggests that a substantial part of the DSQ-40 is lacking in face validity.

Pratiques alimentaires et préoccupations corporelles chez les jeunes femmes

Resume L’objectif de cette recherche est de mettre en evidence qu’au-dela des troubles stricts du comportement alimentaire les jeunes femmes peuvent avoir des pratiques et des preoccupations alimentaires et corporelles susceptibles de menacer leur bien-etre physique, psychique et social. Pour y repondre, un questionnaire a ete administre a 104 etudiantes inscrites en DEUG. Ce questionnaire a ete construit a partir des grilles diagnostiques de l’anorexie mentale et de la boulimie du MINI et du questionnaire du SCOFF. Parmi les resultats obtenus, nous pouvons noter que 21,2 % des jeunes femmes de l’echantillon sont en deficit ponderal et que 34,6 % de ces jeunes femmes declarent que l’opinion ou l’estime qu’elles ont d’elles-memes sont largement influencees par leur poids ou leurs formes corporelles. De plus, elles sont 30,7 % a trouver leur poids excessif et 67,3 % a trouver une ou des parties de leurs corps trop grosses ; alors que seulement 9,6 % d’entre elles sont reellement en surpoids. Il est donc possible d’observer un decalage entre l’idee que les sujets se font de leur poids et ce a quoi il correspond objectivement, 80,7 % de ces jeunes femmes declarent utiliser des strategies de controle du poids qui peuvent etre une menace pour leur sante. Cet engouement pour les strategies de controle du poids peut s’expliquer par le fait que plus de la moitie de ces jeunes femmes ont peur de prendre du poids et/ou de devenir trop grosses. Cette etude revele la frequence alarmante de l’insatisfaction corporelle et des troubles du comportement alimentaire qui concernant plus de la majorite de la population etudiee.

Troubles du comportement alimentaire et symptomatologie dépressive : étude épidémiologique chez les jeunes hommes

OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to evaluate the incidence of eating disorders, including not otherwise specified eating disorders (EDNOS) and subthreshold disorders, inappropriate compensatory behaviors (such as self-induced vomiting, strict dieting, fasting) along with depressive symptoms among young French adult males. METHOD The sample was composed of 458 young men in age ranging from 18 to 30 years (mean age=21.9±2.4). The average body mass index was 22.8±3. Participants completed two questionnaires: the Questionnaire for Eating Disorders Diagnoses (Q-EDD) assessing full-criteria eating disorder symptoms based on DSM-IV criteria (i.e. clinical eating disorders) and subthreshold disorders, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale (CES-D) assessing depressive symptoms. RESULTS Out of the 458 surveyed respondents, eating disorders were reported by approximately 17% of the overall sample, with 1.5% meeting diagnostic criteria for serious clinical disorders, 3% meeting diagnostic criteria for EDNOS and 12% meeting diagnostic criteria for subthreshold disorders. Exercise bulimia represented 1% of the overall sample and binge-eating disorder 2%. The most frequent subthreshold disorder was subthreshold nonbinging bulimia (7%). Participants with eating disorders were equally divided between those desiring weight gain, those desiring weight loss and those wanting to keep their current weight. Participants without eating disorders were more likely to want to gain weight compared to participants with eating disorders (45.5% versus 30% respectively; P<0.05). After controlling for body mass index, 30% of participants tended to perceive themselves as thinner than they actually were and 6% tended to perceive themselves as fatter. Regarding normal-weight participants, 28% perceived themselves as thinner and 8% as fatter than in reality. Overeating episodes were reported by 19% of participants. Binge-eating episodes (recurrent or not) were reported by 8% of young men, including 32% of participants with eating disorders and 3% of participants without eating disorder. Six percent reported repeated binging (at least twice a week for at least once a month). Inappropriate compensatory behaviors were mostly used by participants with eating disorders, except for excessive exercise (34% versus 35% for participants without eating disorders). The most typical compensatory behavior was fasting (11%). According to the cut-off score of 22, 18% of young men had a moderate to severe depressive symptomatology, including 5% of participants who also reported an eating disorder (i.e. 30 participants). A one-way ANOVA was conducted to examine differences in depressive symptoms as a function of eating disorder groups, namely the clinical eating disorders sample (n=22), the subthreshold disorders sample (n=54) and the asymptomatic sample (participants without eating disorder; n=382). Results were statistically significant, (F(2,455)=7.27, P<0.001) and post-hoc tests (Scheffé tests) were used to examine the group differences. The mean CES-D scores for the clinical eating disorders sample (19.45±8.2; P<0.05) and the subthreshold disorders sample (18.15±10.9; P<0.05) were significantly higher than for the asymptomatic sample (14.19±8.9). There was no significant difference between the two eating disorder groups (P>0.05). DISCUSSION The results demonstrate that a significant proportion of men with eating disorders manifest comorbid depressive symptomatology. These results suggest that EDNOS and subthreshold disorders should be taken into consideration, as they represent 15% of the total sample. Participants reported high rate of excessive exercise and fasting, which could reflect the importance of muscle tone or strategies to increase muscle mass. Further research is necessary in order to better understand male eating behaviors and disorders.

Validity and Reliability of the French Versions of the Body Shape Questionnaire

The validity of the 34-item and shortened versions of the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) has been evaluated in various languages. To date, only the validity of the 34-item French BSQ scale has been tested in a nonclinical sample. This study assessed the reliability and validity of the 34-item French BSQ and 7 shortened versions in clinical and nonclinical samples. The 34-item French BSQ was administered to 159 obese women with and without binge eating disorders and to 1,169 female undergraduate students. The results suggested that the BSQ–8B was the best French BSQ to use in nonclinical and clinical samples.

Binge eating Disorder et stigmatisation dans l’obésité

Resume Objectifs Explorer l’association entre frequence et retentissement de la stigmatisation et la presence d’un trouble du comportement alimentaire de type Binge Eating Disorder (BED) chez les femmes obeses. Sujets L’echantillon est compose de 160 femmes obeses consultant en vue d’un amaigrissement avec un indice de masse corporelle superieur a 30 kg/m 2 et un âge compris entre 18 et 65 ans. Materiels Auto-questionnaire sur la frequence et sur le retentissement de la stigmatisation dans l’obesite, l’echelle d’estime de soi de Rosenberg (RSE), echelle abregee de depression de Beck, le Body Shape questionnaire (BSQ), questionnaire of Eating and Weight Pattern (QEWP-R). Resultats Les femmes obeses avec BED ne connaissent pas une frequence d’exposition a la stigmatisation plus elevee que les femmes sans BED, par contre elles presentent un retentissement percu moyen de la stigmatisation superieur par rapport aux femmes obeses sans BED. Nous avons observe qu’elles sont plus confrontees aux situations de stigmatisation suivantes: commentaires negatifs du conjoint, regards negatifs de la famille proche, commentaires negatifs de la famille proche et manque de choix vestimentaire. Les femmes obeses avec BED connaissent egalement un retentissement percu moyen superieur par rapport aux situations de stigmatisation suivantes: regards negatifs des adultes, regards negatifs de la famille proche, sensation de gene ou de malaise de la part des personnes aimees, discrimination dans la vie quotidienne, discrimination dans le cadre du travail, attitudes negatives des vendeurs (ses).

Representations and beliefs about eating disorders in a sample of French adolescents.

OBJECTIVE Body dissatisfaction and psychological problems are cited as the major cause of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). Behavioral characteristics most often associated with AN and BN are food restriction, vomiting, and excessive exercise. The objective of this study was to examine representations and beliefs about AN and BN in a sample of French adolescents. METHOD The sample was composed of 942 adolescents (16.4 years ± 1.2; 59.1% girls and 40.9% boys). RESULTS Excessive thinness and health problems were the physical characteristics most often associated with eating disorders (ED). A majority of the adolescents believe that ED most often manifest in adolescent females and were conscious of the gravity and chronic nature of ED; thinness was appropriately associated with AN, but many had erroneous beliefs regarding BN. DISCUSSION The results of this study provide insight into what young people in France believe and understand about the two major ED and advocate for more available information concerning BN for this population.