Clinical, metabolic, and behavioral characteristics according to eating psychopathology severity (low vs high EDE-Q).
| Variable | Low EDE-Q (n = 33) | High EDE-Q (n = 66) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 38.24 ± 9.10 | 39.29 ± 11.03 | 0.63 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 22.40 (20.30–23.96) | 36.50 (31.68–42.07) | < 0.001 |
| Waist circumference (cm) | 77.58 ± 14.34 | 106.52 ± 19.62 | < 0.001 |
| Oxytocin (pg/mL) | 137.00 (121.10–147.00) | 29.00 (18.57–41.12) | < 0.001 |
| Leptin (pg/mL) | 387.90 (350.50–416.60) | 1,175.20 (1,156.65–1,187.50) | < 0.001 |
| HOMA-IR | 1.60 (1.40–1.80) | 4.59 (3.50–6.21) | < 0.001 |
| HSI | 30.30 (29.14–33.00) | 48.95 (43.48–55.81) | < 0.001 |
| VAI | 1.25 (1.18–1.44) | 4.49 (3.42–5.42) | < 0.001 |
| Glucose (mmol/L) | 4.90 (4.70–5.10) | 5.40 (4.94–6.08) | < 0.001 |
| HbA1c (%) | 4.90 (4.80–5.10) | 5.35 (4.50–5.80) | < 0.001 |
| EDE-Q Global | 1.00 (0.90–1.00) | 3.80 (3.39–4.04) | < 0.001 |
| EE | 0.60 (0.50–0.60) | 2.04 (1.47–2.95) | < 0.001 |
| EX | 1.00 (0.90–1.00) | 3.00 (2.50–3.50) | < 0.001 |
| RE | 1.30 (1.20–1.30) | 3.00 (2.32–3.58) | < 0.001 |
Participants were stratified using an EDE-Q global score threshold of 2.3 for descriptive purposes only. This threshold was not used in mediation analyses and has not been formally validated in Uzbek clinical populations. Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation or median (interquartile range), as appropriate. Group comparisons were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test due to non-normal distribution of variables. EDE-Q: Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire; BMI: body mass index; HOMA-IR: Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance; HSI: Hepatic Steatosis Index; VAI: Visceral Adiposity Index; EE: emotional eating; EX: external eating; RE: Restrained eating.