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Scrutinizing domains of executive function in binge eating disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Cury et al. (2020) highlight the fact that cognitive deficits have been implicated to be involved in binge eating disorder, while changes in executive function may underlie the symptoms of this disorder. This review meta-analyzes the literature concerned with executive functioning in individuals with BED. The reviewers selected studies of any design that compared adults with binge eating disorder with those without in executive function domains. Six meta-analyses were conducted on the following four domains: decision-making; cognitive flexibility; inhibitory control; and working memory. There was a significant difference in executive functioning between participants with binge eating disorder and those obese controls when considering the working memory domain, although the effect size was found to be small. Qualitative analysis yielded mixed results for control inhibition, decision making and cognitive flexibility in individuals with binge eating disorder (BED) compared to controls. Although there was no marked variation in planning abilities, those with BED performed worse in the problem-solving assessments compared to the obese control group. To conclude, people with binge eating disorder did not perform as well as obese subjects without the disorder in terms of working memory tasks, but these findings did not provide definitive evidence of modifications in other aspects of executive functioning. There was a lack of data in some respects, as there were only small studies available, varying in methodology. [NPID: diet, emotional eating, eating disorders, cognitive deficits, binge eating, binge eating disorder, executive function, BED, decision making, cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, working memory, control inhibition, obesity]
Year: 2020
