From Behaviour to Brain: A Statistical and Neurobehavioural Study of Eating Disorders

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between brain functions and eating disorders by examining how neurobehavioral factors influence perceptions related to eating disorders. A 57-item questionnaire was designed, integrating items from the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, and s elf-designed questions. The survey was structured into six domains: cognitive control, emotional triggers, body image perception, sensory processing, reward processing, and demographic variables. Data collected from the university students were analyzed using Chi-square tests to determine significant associations of certain behaviors and perceptions of eating disorders. Following individual variable analysis, variables were combined into broad neurobehavioral categories and analyzed at the group level. Significant findings at the group level, following aggregation, were mapped into corresponding brain regions, thus creating a neurobiological framework that explains eating disorders. This study puts much emphasis on the neurobehavioral factors in determining perceptions about eating disorders and is therefore very valuable for the development of targeted interventions and future studies in this field.