Association between eating behaviour and 13-year cardiovascular damages in the initially healthy STANISLAS cohort

Abstract

AbstractAimsSeveral dimensions of eating behaviour (EB), such as restrained eating (RE), appear to be cross-sectionally associated with certain cardiovascular (CV) diseases and metabolic risk factors although little is known regarding longitudinal associations. This study aimed to assess the associations between EB and CV damage or metabolic syndrome after 13 years, in initially healthy individuals.Methods and resultsThis study included 1109 participants from the familial STANISLAS (Suivi Temporaire Annuel Non-Invasif de la Santé des Lorrains Assurés Sociaux) cohort study. Emotional eating (EmE), RE, and external eating were assessed using the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. Metabolic syndrome and CV damages such as carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (cfPWV), left ventricular mass, carotid intima-media thickness, and diastolic dysfunction (DD) were measured after a period of 13 years. Mixed model analysis with a family random effect and adjustment for age, sex, education, temporal gap, physical activity, metabolic factors at baseline, and the onset of CV disease during follow-up, and mediation analysis were performed in adults and adolescents separately. Among adults, EmE was associated with a 38% increased risk of DD 13 years later [odds ratio = 1.38 (1.05; 1.83)]. Stress level mediated 31.9% of this association (P = 0.01). Emotional eating was positively associated with cfPWV (β=0.02 [0.01; 0.04]). External eating was slightly associated with lower cfPWV (β=−0.03 [−0.05; −0.01]). No associations were observed between EB dimensions and metabolic syndrome. Energy intake was not found to be a mediator of any associations.ConclusionOur results suggest that CV prevention should also take into account EB and include emotion regulation skills teaching.