Loss of control eating in African-American and Caucasian youth

Loss of control (LOC) eating, a disinhibited eating behavior shown to predict excessive weight gain in youth, has been reported by African-American children and adolescents. Yet, little is known about how LOC-eating manifests in this population. To investigate potential racial differences in LOC-eating, the Eating Disorder Examination was administered to 185 non-Hispanic African-American and Caucasian youth ages 8–17 y. Objective eating was assessed at two test meals during which youth ate ad libitum from a multi-item lunchtime food array. African-American and Caucasian youth reported a similar prevalence of LOC episodes (24.2% vs. 28.9%, p = .75). Yet, accounting for sex, age, fat-free mass, percent fat mass, height, and socioeconomic status, African-Americans consumed more total energy at both laboratory meals (1608 ± 57 kcal vs. 1362 ± 44 kcal; p < .001). Furthermore, African-American youth reporting LOC consumed the most total energy across both meals (1855 ± 104 kcal) compared to African-Americans without LOC (1524 ± 60 kcal), Caucasians with LOC (1278 ± 68 kcal), and Caucasians without LOC (1399 ± 46 kcal; p < .001). Future research is required to examine whether LOC-eating contributes to the high rates of obesity in African-American youth.

► Investigated prevalence of loss of control in African-American and Caucasian youth. ► Examined energy intake in the laboratory in African-American and Caucasian youth. ► African-Americans and Caucasians reported similar rates of loss of control eating. ► African-American youth consumed more total energy than Caucasian youth ► African-American youth with loss of control consumed the most total energy.