Interoception and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between interoception and BMI

Interoception is the conscious process through which one acknowledges, formulates, and incorporates internal signals coming from one’s body. Lack of interoception has been associated with higher BMI scores and contributions to gaining weight, however, the resultant findings from investigating such associations have been at odds, and the links between higher BMI and interoceptive deficits remain unclear, in particular, regarding the accuracy of interoception (detection of signals) and sensibility (recognizing and acting upon internal signals). In this systematic review and meta-analysis by Robinson et al. (2021), the authors examined 87 studies looking at the links between interoception and BMI in children and in adults, measuring 121 effects in 10,425 participants, revealing cross-sectional association evidence of higher BMI with interoceptive deficits. Thus, the authors conclude that cross-sectional studies prove the existence of a link between interoceptive deficits and higher BMI, however, the authors comment that the evidence remains inconclusive on whether these deficits contribute to weight gain and obesity, or if they are a result of weight gain and obesity. [NPID: Neuroscience, risk factors, interoception, BMI, weight gain, obesity]

Year: 2021

Reference: Robinson, E., Foote, G., Smith, J., Higgs, S., & Jones, A. (2021). Interoception and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between interoception and BMI. International Journal of Obesity. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-021-00950-y