Food addiction symptoms and metabolic changes in children and adolescents with the double burden of malnutrition

The double burden of malnutrition (DBM) has been described in many low-/middle-income countries. We investigated food addiction, thyroid hormones, leptin, the lipid/glucose profile and body composition in DBM children/adolescents. Subjects were allocated into groups according to nutritional status: control (C, n 28), weight excess (WE, n 23) and DBM (WE plus mild stunting, n 22). Both the DBM and WE groups showed higher mean insulin concentrations than the control (DBM = 57 center dot 95 (95 % CI 47 center dot 88, 70 center dot 14) pmol/l, WE = 74 center dot 41 (95 % CI 61 center dot 72, 89 center dot 80) pmol/l, C = 40 center dot 03 (95 % CI 34 center dot 04, 47 center dot 83) pmol/l, P < 0 center dot 001). WE and DBM showed more food addiction symptoms than the control (3 center dot 11 (95 % CI 2 center dot 33, 3 center dot 89), 3 center dot 41 (95 % CI 2 center dot 61, 4 center dot 20) and 1 center dot 66 (95 % CI 0 center dot 95, 2 center dot 37)). In DBM individuals, addiction symptoms were correlated with higher body fat and higher insulin and leptin levels. These data provide preliminary evidence consistent with the suggestion that DBM individuals have a persistent desire to eat, but further studies are required to confirm these results in a larger study. These hormonal changes and high body fat contribute to the development of diabetes in long term.