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Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is one of the most common mental disorders in parents after birth. To develop tailored preventive programs, it is necessary to identify risk factors for PPD in parents. This study aimed to examine the impact of parental childhood maltreatment (CM) as a risk factor for PPD., Methods: Data from a German study comprising n = 349 mothers and n = 46 fathers were used. Hierarchical regression models were performed to examine CM, educational background, single parenthood, emotion regulation and attachment style as predictors of symptoms of PPD. In exploratory analyses, potential mediators (i.e., parenting stress and emotion regulation) were investigated via a path model., Results: CM, low level of education, difficulties in emotion regulation, and attachment anxiety were significant predictors for maternal PPD [R 2  = 0.52, F (6, 305) = 57.99, p < .001]. For fathers, difficulties in emotion regulation were identified as a predictor [R 2  = 0.43, F (6, 24) = 4.78, p < .01]. In exploratory analyses, emotion regulation served as a mediator for the link between CM and PPD as well as for the link between CM and parenting stress., Limitations: The study design is cross-sectional and based on self-report questionnaires. Despite our attempts, only few fathers participated in the study, resulting in an underpowered sample for the regression analyses., Conclusions: The study confirmed the assumption that CM experiences represent a risk factor for the development of maternal PPD. Emotion regulation might provide a pivotal target for interventions with parents at-risk., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors have no conflict of interest to report., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Experimental studies reveal that deficits in food-related inhibitory control, rather than general impulsiveness, are closely linked to overweight and obesity. To date, the real-world implications remain unknown, and it is unclear whether these results are supported in the clinical field., Objective: To examine the effectiveness of a mobile health (mHealth) intervention with cognitive and behavioral therapeutic elements in altering impulsiveness and food-related inhibitory control., Methods: Prespecified secondary outcome analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Participants with overweight/obesity (BMI: M  = 33.35 kg/m 2 , SD = 3.79 kg/m 2 , N  = 213) were randomly assigned to either a 12-week mHealth intervention ( n  = 116) or wait-list control group ( n  = 97). The Barratt-Impulsiveness-Scale (BIS-15) and the Food-Related Inhibitory Control Scale (FRIS) were administered at baseline (T0) following the intervention (T1), at 9 and 15 month post baseline (T2, T3). Multi-level analyses were calculated., Results: Compared to the control group, the intervention group reported higher food-related inhibitory control on several subscales of the FRIS: In Withholding in Social Situations at T1 (95% CI: 0.06-0.46) and T2 (95%CI: 0.09-0.50), Action Cancellation at T1 (95%CI: 0.05-0.45), Resisting despite Craving at T1 (95% CI: 0.07-0.49), Withstanding Rewarding Food at T2 (95%CI: 0.08-0.55) and Action Withholding at T3 (95% CI: 0.01-0.55). No differences were found for trait impulsiveness (T1: 95%CI: -1.91-0.47; T2: 95%CI: -1.65-0.84; T3: 95%CI: -0.88-1.67)., Conclusions: Food-related inhibitory control, rather than global measures of impulsiveness, addresses the critical association between inhibitory control and health-conscious dietary choices and can be improved by mHealth intervention., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04080193., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Obesity Science & Practice published by World Obesity and The Obesity Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Affect is known to be predictive of and enhanced by higher physical activity (PA) levels in the general population. This secondary analysis aimed to increase the understanding of the bi-directional relationship between PA and core affect (i.e. valence, energetic arousal, and calmness) among adults with higher body weight. Affect and PA were assessed in naturalistic settings via ecological momentary assessment using a mixed sampling scheme from 157 participants (body mass index: 32.99 ± 3.78 kg/m 2 ). Multilevel models revealed that being more physically active in the 15 minutes prior to the assessment predicted an increase in energetic arousal and a decrease in calmness. Subsequently, feeling more energetic and agitated was associated with increased PA within the following 15 minutes. Valence (i.e. pleasure-displeasure) was not associated with PA nor predictive of subsequent PA. Digital PA interventions may target the enhancement of feelings of energy and present psychoeducation about these distinct psychological benefits., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: The transition to parenthood represents a critical life period with psychosocial, and behavioral changes and challenges for parents. This often increases stress and leads to unhealthy weight gain in families, especially in psychosocially burdened families. Although universal and selective prevention programs are offered to families, specific support often fails to reach psychosocially burdened families. Digital technologies are a chance to overcome this problem by enabling a low-threshold access for parents in need. However, there is currently a lack of smartphone-based interventions that are tailored to the needs of psychosocially burdened families., Aims: The research project I-PREGNO aims to develop and evaluate a self-guided, smartphone-based intervention in combination with face-to-face counseling delivered by healthcare professionals for the prevention of unhealthy weight gain and psychosocial problems. The intervention is specifically tailored to the needs of psychosocially burdened families during the pregnancy and postpartum period., Methods: In two cluster randomized controlled trials in Germany and Austria (N = 400) psychosocially burdened families will be recruited and randomized to i) treatment as usual (TAU), or ii) I-PREGNO intervention (self-guided I-PREGNO app with counseling sessions) and TAU. We expect higher acceptance and better outcomes on parental weight gain and psychosocial stress in the intervention group., Discussion: The intervention offers a low cost and low-threshold intervention and considers the life situation of psychosocially burdened families who are a neglected group in traditional prevention programs. After positive evaluation, the intervention may easily be implemented in existing perinatal care structures in European countries such as Germany and Austria., Trial Registration: Both trials were registered prospectively at the German Clinical Trials Register (Germany: DRKS00029673; Austria: DRKS00029934) in July and August 2022., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Given the increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity worldwide, the number of digital weight loss interventions has also risen. However, these interventions often lack theoretical background and data on long-term effectiveness. The consideration of individual and gender differences in weight-related psychological parameters might enhance the efficacy and sustainability of mobile-based weight loss interventions., Objective: This paper presented an introduction to and the process evaluation of a 12-week gender-sensitive mobile health (mHealth) weight loss intervention (I-GENDO) combining computer-based and self-tailoring features., Methods: Between August 2020 and August 2021, individuals with overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m²), those with obesity class I (BMI 30.0-34.9 kg/m²), and those with obesity class II (BMI 35.0-39.9 kg/m²) were recruited to the I-GENDO project, a multicenter study in Germany. The mHealth intervention aimed at targeting individual psychological factors associated with the development and persistence of overweight and obesity (eg, emotional eating) using computer-based tailoring. Moreover, the intervention took a gender-sensitive approach by implementing self-tailoring of gender-targeted module versions. The computer-based assignment of the main modules, self-selection of gender-targeted module versions, and use patterns were evaluated while considering gender. Moreover, gender differences in the usability assessment were analyzed., Results: Data from the intervention arm of the study were processed. A total of 116 individuals with overweight and obesity (77/116, 66.4% women; age mean 47.28, SD 11.66 years; BMI mean 33.58, SD 3.79 kg/m 2 ) were included in the analyses. Overall, the compliance (90/109, 82.6%) and satisfaction with the app (mean 86% approval) were high and comparable with those of other mobile weight loss interventions. The usability of the intervention was rated with 71% (5.0/7.0 points) satisfaction. More women obtained the main module that focused on emotion regulation skills. Most men and women selected women-targeted versions of the main modules. Women used the app more frequently and longer than men. However, women and men did not differ in the progress of use patterns throughout the intervention., Conclusions: We developed a tailored gender-sensitive mHealth weight loss intervention. The usability of and engagement with the intervention were satisfactory, and the overall satisfaction with the intervention was also high. Gender differences must be considered in the evaluation of the effectiveness and sustainability of the intervention., (©Magdalena Pape, Tanja Färber, Caroline Seiferth, Tanja Roth, Stefanie Schroeder, Joerg Wolstein, Stephan Herpertz, Sabine Steins-Loeber. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 27.10.2022.)

Background and Aims: It is assumed that a relevant subgroup of individuals experiences an addiction-like eating behaviour (Food Addiction), characterized by an impaired control over eating behaviour, emotional eating and food craving. Individuals experiencing Food Addiction partially share common symptomatology with Binge-Eating-Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Food Addiction, general psychopathology, and associations with weight- and addiction-related constructs in individuals with overweight and obesity, who did not suffer from Binge-Eating-Disorder or Bulimia Nervosa. Methods: N =213 (67.1% female; M BMI =33.35kg/m 2 , SD BMI =3.79kg/m 2 ) participants who were included in a weight loss program (I-GENDO project) reported BMI and completed questionnaires before the start of the treatment. Food Addiction severity, depressive symptoms, alcohol use disorder, internet use disorder, psychological distress, impulsivity personality trait, impulsive and emotional eating behaviour, food related inhibitory control, weight bias internalization, and self-efficacy were assessed. Results: The prevalence of Food Addiction was 15% with higher, although not statistically significant, prevalence in female (18.2%) compared to male (8.6%) participants. Food Addiction was associated with higher BMI at baseline assessment, low self-esteem, impulsive and emotional eating behaviour, weight bias internalization, and deficits in food-related inhibitory control. In addition, correlations were found between Food Addiction and severity of depressive symptoms, internet use disorder, and psychological distress. Conclusion: A relevant subgroup of participants experiences Food Addiction even when controlling for Binge-Eating-Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa. Future studies are warranted that investigate whether Food Addiction affects treatment success., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Pape, Herpertz, Schroeder, Seiferth, Färber, Wolstein and Steins-Loeber.)

Szintigraphy of the thyroid gland is still one of the most important preoperative diagnostic procedures. Ultrasound of the thyroid gland is a highly sensitive, but less specific method. Fine-needle aspiration as an additional diagnostic method has a higher specificity in the case of a positive result.