Journal Article

Eating behavior patterns, metabolic parameters and circulating oxytocin levels in patients with obesity: an exploratory study

Colonnello, Elena, Watanabe, Mikiko, Gnessi, Lucio, Libotte, Flavia, Curreli, Mariaignazia, Gandini, Orietta, Masi, Davide, Lubrano, Carla, Massetti, Chandra, Mariani, Stefania, Gangitano, Elena

2025

Overview

Purpose Obesity is a complex heterogeneous disease often associated with dysfunctional eating behavior patterns. Oxytocin (OT) is a neurohormone involved in the regulation of energy metabolism and eating behavior. The aim of the present study was to evaluate in a population of patients with obesity circulating levels of OT and dysfunctional eating behaviors in relation to anthropometric, hormonal and metabolic parameters. Methods A prospective, observational, single-center study was conducted at the Center of High Specialization for the Care of Obesity of Sapienza University of Rome. Adult subjects with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2 were recruited. Body impedance assessment (BIA), biochemical and hormonal parameters, plasma OT concentration analysis and the Eating Behaviors Assessment for Obesity (EBA-O) questionnaire were evaluated. Results A total of 21 patients, 16 females and 5 males, with a mean age of 45.7 ± 15.1 years, mean BMI of 40.89 ± 8.02 kg/m 2 and plasma OT concentration of 1365.61 ± 438.03 pg/mL were recruited. The dysfunctional eating behavior traits investigated by the EBA-O appear significantly associated with metabolic derangements. In particular, night eating is associated with alterations in lipid metabolism ( p  < 0.01). Circulating OT correlates positively with BMI ( r  = 0,43; p  < 0.05), and Hepatic Steatosis Index (HIS) ( r  = 0.46; p  < 0.05), while its role in subjects with obesity and alterations in glucose metabolism is less clear. Interestingly, circulating OT levels < 1312.55 pg/mL may be predictive of food addiction (100% sensitivity; 62.5% specificity). Conclusions Despite the need for larger studies to confirm their validity, the clinical utility of the EBA-O and circulating OT in identifying dysfunctional eating behaviors appears promising.

• Publisher: Springer International Publishing,Springer Nature B.V,Springer
• Subject: Adult / Body Mass Index / Eating behavior / Eating disorder / Emotional eating / Fatty liver / Feeding Behavior - physiology / Female / Food addiction / Hormones / Humans / Male / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Metabolism / Middle Aged / Obesity / Obesity - blood / Obesity - metabolism / Oxytocin / Oxytocin - blood / Prospective Studies / Psychiatry