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Adverse childhood experiences and adult obesity: A systematic review of plausible mechanisms and meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have the potential to become biologically ingrained, leaving everlasting imprints on various bodily systems. ACE scores have been utilized to link childhood adversity with a broad spectrum of adverse health outcomes throughout life, particularly substance-related disorders. Numerous studies indicate that higher ACE scores predict obesity in adulthood. However, gaps remain in understanding the pathways through which childhood adversity contributes to increased BMI later in life. Wiss and Brewerton (2020) conducted a systematic review to explore these pathways and discuss potential novel mechanisms. The authors conducted searches on PubMed, PsycInfo, Embase, and Web of Science, identifying 18 articles that met their criteria for qualitative analysis. The primary mechanisms frequently cited that link adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to obesity include social disruption, changes in health behaviors, and chronic stress responses. Synthesizing data from ten observational studies comprising 118,691 participants consistently reveals a positive association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adult obesity. Specifically, exposure to multiple ACEs is associated with a 46% higher likelihood of developing obesity in adulthood. Based on the results, the authors propose biologically plausible explanations for this significant relationship. Implementing strategies such as reducing exposure to ACEs, enhancing trauma screening and trauma-informed care practices, and improving the food environment are likely to have beneficial effects on long-term health outcomes related to eating behaviors. [NPID: Adverse childhood experience, adversity, eating disorder, food addiction, obesity, trauma]
Year: 2020
