Self-Regulation in Eating Disorders and Obesity - Implications for the Treatment

Self-Regulation in Eating Disorders and Obesity Implications for the Treatment Research has shown that the treatment of certain eating disorders as e. g. anorexia nervosa and inappropriate eating behavior in obesity is of limited efficacy and that an elevated psychopathology also persists after treatment. This necessitates the identification of other etiological and maintaining factors that, when changed, could improve the efficacy of the treatment. Based on actual findings, the present narrative review aims to illustrate the role of the ability to regulate emotions and impulses in the development and maintenance of disordered eating. There is some evidence that the eating disorders anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and obesity are associated with a reduced ability of emotion and impulse regulation in childhood, adolescence, and in adulthood. Furthermore, a reduced ability of self-regulation in childhood predicts later obesity. Up to now, there are no controlled studies about the efficacy of the inclusion of such components in the treatment of eating disorders. However, there are promising results regarding the efficacy of unspecific prevention approaches for the improvement of self-regulation.