Gender and Sexual Orientation Differences in the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Disordered Eating: Results From a Serial Cross-Sectional Youth Survey From 2022 to 2024.

Disordered eating, exercise dependence, body dissatisfaction, and fueling practices in female CrossFit® and CrossFit® plus endurance participants.

Men and women who seek treatment for binge-spectrum eating disorders have similar baseline characteristics.

Interoceptive mechanisms of a mobile heart rate variability biofeedback app for eating disorder symptoms: Proof-of-concept findings.

"I feel full with shame": A qualitative perspective on gastric interoceptive sensibility.

Clarifying conceptualization of emotional dysregulation: Differences with emotional lability during 4-month DBT skills training - A naturalistic study.

"Fulfilling the hunger": A qualitative study to understand the etiology of binge eating in adolescents experiencing food insecurity.

Don't check after a snack: body checking increases eating-related threat perception.

Abstract Background Online training programs offer accessible, cost-effective solutions to disseminate evidence-based interventions. Yet, online training is typically insufficient without additional clinical case consultation (CCC). This is particularly salient in adolescent eating disorders treatment, where clinical demand far outstrips capacities of providers trained in evidence-based treatment approaches. This study seeks to better understand attitudes and barriers to receiving CCC among private practice clinicians treating adolescent eating disorders. Methods Licensed private practice clinicians ( n = 47; 100% female, average age 36 y old; 75% master’s degree; average of 4y experience) across the United States enrolled in a randomized trial offering online training (webinar or e-learning) in family-based treatment (FBT) for anorexia nervosa. Post online training, participants were asked before and after 12 sessions of expert CCC to self-report attitudes and barriers to obtaining CCC. Results Prior to CCC, participants rated expert CCC in learning FBT as important/very important (100%). The majority participated in CCC since licensure (82%) and in the last year (68%), rating it valuable or very valuable (77%). Participants predicted that CCC would be valuable (96%) and an important motivation in completing the training study (96%). After CCC, participants viewed CCC as important/very important in learning FBT (94%). Common obstacles included finding a study-eligible patient (44%), scheduling constraints (19%), lost wages (16%), mismatch with consultant (3%), and hesitation to discuss cases (3%). Conclusions Clinicians reported favorable perspectives on CCC in complimenting learning FBT via online training. Future studies are needed to determine methods to deliver, assess, and scale CCC to enhance treatment fidelity.

Introduction Self-compassion (SC) is associated with reduced eating disorder pathology, body dissatisfaction, and weight concerns, but most SC interventions and research samples focus on women. Because men often face unique challenges related to weight stigma and masculine norms, SC may be especially valuable in supporting emotion-regulation in health coaching programs. Little is known about how adult men engaged in weight loss interpret and experience SC, limiting the reach of interventions intended to support sustainable health behavior change. As such, the purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore how adult men seeking weight loss with health coaching make sense of SC during weight loss. Specifically, we examined experiences and meanings of SC, the perceived barriers and facilitators to practicing it, and how body image and weight-related experiences shape their understanding and application of SC. Methods Using reflexive thematic analysis, we explored how 11 adult men enrolled in a commercial weight-normative health coaching program made sense of self-compassion in the context of body image, dieting, and masculinity. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed through an inductive, interpretive process emphasizing information power and meaning-making over saturation. Researcher reflexivity and positionality were integrated throughout the analytic process. Results Seven themes and 20 subthemes were developed. Key themes included: (1) SC as a skill to be learned and practiced; (2) concordance between SC and self-image, including gender norms; (3) the interplay between SC and body image; (4) SC in action through mindset and behavior; (5) barriers to SC such as weight stigma, toxic masculinity, and dieting cycles; (6) facilitators to SC including life experience and upbringing; and (7) SC as a mask for disordered eating and exercise behaviors. Discussion Findings highlight the need to tailor SC interventions to address masculine norms, weight stigma, and internalized bias.

Objective Emotional eating is more common in individuals with obesity and is a predictor of increased Body Mass Index (BMI). This study aimed to identify the types of emotions associated with the urge to eat in subjects with varying BMI levels. Methods Adult participants were recruited as part of a validity study for a new questionnaire designed to assess an individual's relationship with their body. The Emotional Eating Scale of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), as well as questions on past and current eating disorders, body weight status and history, health, and socio-demographic data, were assessed through an online questionnaire. Results Six hundred participants were included, comprising 80.5% women. 27.0% were living with overweight and 21.2% with obesity. The urge to eat was significantly more frequent in response to diffuse emotions than to defined emotions, independent of sex and BMI level. The frequency of emotional eating was positively associated with BMI for all emotions explored by the DEBQ. The defined emotion "depressed/discouraged" induced an urge to eat more often in individuals with obesity. "Feeling abandoned" was the diffuse emotion most associated with obesity (53.5% of subjects with obesity ate often or very often versus 28.6% of subjects with normal weight). Conclusion This study highlights the need to explore diffuse emotions in subjects with obesity.

Despite suggestions that Day Programs can be efficacious, little is understood about which mechanisms create positive change for young people and their family in this setting. The aim of this study was to explore clinician perspectives on how change occurs in an adolescent eating disorder Day Program in Australia. Twelve clinicians working as a team on an adolescent Day Program participated in semi-structured qualitative focus groups. Focus groups explored the clinicians' perspectives on change processes in the Day Program treatment model and the impact on young people and their families. Data generated from each focus group was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The structure, predictability and intensity of the Day Program along with tailored and responsive treatment was perceived as leading to a main theme of structural containment. Additionally, the combination of a strong relational treatment focus with team mutuality was perceived as leading to a second main theme of relational containment. The combination of structural and relational containment for families was perceived by clinicians as the leading mechanisms in supporting parental effectiveness in treatment and the settling and engaging of the young people. Levels of containment were also understood to create safety for all (parents, young people, and clinicians) providing a wraparound approach allowing effective treatment to be delivered. The findings of this study speak to the importance of safety as a foundation for working with families needing higher levels of care. Treatment approaches that are both structurally and relationally containing might be needed for families requiring more intensive care. Findings also highlight the importance of the clinical team working cohesively and the potential need for clinicians/services to consider how to create a therapeutically supportive environment that maximises the effectiveness of treatment.

Chronic pain and eating problems frequently co-occur, with disordered eating behaviors such as emotional eating, food restriction, and appetite fluctuation contributing to adverse outcomes. However, there are no validated screening tools specifically designed for assessing eating problems in chronic pain populations. This study aimed to validate two brief eating disorder measures, the Eating Attitudes Test-8 (EAT-8) and Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire-8 (EDE-Q8), for English-speaking adults presenting for chronic pain treatment. Participants included 173 adults seeking treatment at a pain evaluation service. Participants completed the EAT-8 and EDE-Q8 alongside self-report clinical measures. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from medical records. Statistical analyses assessed internal reliability, construct validity, and differences in eating disorder measures by BMI and eating disorder history. Both the EAT-8 and EDE-Q8 demonstrated acceptable internal reliability (McDonald's omega ≥ 0.7) and strong construct validity, with significant correlation between the two measures (r = 0.77). Scores varied significantly by BMI and eating disorder history, with higher scores observed among participants with obese BMI or a history of eating disorders. However, less than 20% of participants felt the measures fully captured their experiences, suggesting potential gaps in assessing eating problems specific to chronic pain. The EAT-8 and EDE-Q8 are valid and reliable tools for identifying disordered eating behaviors in chronic pain patients. However, these measures may not capture the full spectrum of eating problems unique to this population. Future research should refine screening tools to better assess eating behaviors as they relate to chronic pain.

ABSTRACT The Pica, ARFID, and Rumination Disorder ARFID Questionnaire (PARDI-AR-Q) and the Eating Disorders in Youth Questionnaire (EDY-Q) were developed to assess avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), but research is ongoing regarding their discriminant validity. This study examined scores of adult inpatients with ARFID or anorexia nervosa, restricting type (AN-R) on the PARDI-AR-Q, EDY-Q, and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) at admission to a medical stabilization unit for severe eating disorders. Response differences between 78 adult inpatients with ARFID or AN-R were analyzed using a two-sample t-test or Fisher’s exact test. Sensitivity and specificity of self-report measures were examined using receiver operating characteristic curves. Patients with AN-R had significantly higher severity of impact and lower concern about aversive consequences scores than patients with ARFID on the PARDI-AR-Q (p < .001), with no significant differences on sensory-based avoidance or lack of interest or EDY-Q total score. Patients with AN-R scored significantly higher on all domains of the EDE-Q (p’s < .001) and the EDE-Q subscales had better discrimination than ARFID measures. This study provides further evidence of the need for assessments that can distinguish ARFID from AN, and may also highlight the need for future research on the nosological accuracy of differentiating these disorders.

Disordered eating (DE) affects millions of individuals each day as they are exposed to diet culture, normalization of restricting foods, and public perception of a "healthy" body and diet. Persistent DE behaviors may progress in severity and frequency, leading to harmful behaviors that result in physical and psychological health outcomes, ultimately meeting the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder (ED). The purpose of this study was to identify what factors influence disordered eating and eating disorders (DEED), why individuals do not disclose their experiences, and what could have been done to help them with their DEED. Using the Communication Privacy Management theory to develop questions, qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants. A thematic analysis was conducted from interview transcripts to develop overarching themes. Five key themes emerged from participant interviews: family influence and comments, social media influence, healthcare influence, justification factors, and comorbidities. These themes reflect influences on participants developing DEEDs and barriers to getting help such as stigma associated with mental health issues and healthcare providers' unwillingness to discuss their DEED. Many participants also noted that family influences, particularly mothers, were a contributing factor to their DEED as well as playing sports and social media like Tumblr or "What I eat in a day" videos on TikTok. These findings highlight the complex social, cultural, and structural factors that shape privacy management and the development and disclosure of DEED. Public health professionals can use these results to help bridge the gap between education, policy reform, and accessible healthcare to address the often-overlooked public health issues of DEED.

Exploring Reward Sensitivity as a Central Mechanism in Binge Eating Behavior.

Food addiction (FA) is characterized by an insatiable urge to consume high-calorie, sugary, hyper-palatable foods beyond energy needs. This condition is associated with having obesity, binge eating, and comorbid physical, psychological, and social complications. While FA shares characteristics with other eating disorders, it is still understudied in many populations, especially university students. This study aims to assess the prevalence of FA among Palestinian university students and identify associated nutritional, social, psychological, and lifestyle factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted on university students using a random sampling technique. A paper-based structured questionnaire was used to collect data related to sociodemographic, medical history, FA using the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), and mental health using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Dietary behaviour was assessed using the Mediterranean Lifestyle Index (MEDLIFE), while Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to evaluate weight status. The assessed lifestyle habits included quality of sleep using the Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI), physical status using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and smoking status. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Chi-square tests and multiple linear regression. The study involved 1435 participants, mostly female (66.2%), single (91.0%), and nonsmokers (71.1%). The study found that 79% of participants had no FA, 18% had mild addiction, and 3% had moderate to severe addiction. There was a significant relationship between smoking, chronic disease, SHI, or previous surgery and FA. However, there was no association between FA and other sociodemographic factors, medical history, lifestyle characteristics, or nutritional characteristics. The multiple linear models found that age (B = 0.080), anxiety (B = 0.120), depression (B = 0.154), SHI (B = 0.225), BMI (B = 0.153), Mediterranean diet (B = 0.106), and previous surgery (B = -0.064) are significant predictors of FA risk at p ≤ 0.001. Our study identified a notable presence of FA among university students. Key factors associated with FA included smoking, chronic disease, history of surgery, higher BMI, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet, as well as psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, depression, and poor sleep hygiene. These findings elaborate on the complex relationship of physical, psychological, and lifestyle factors contributing to FA. Further research is recommended to clarify the causal relationships behind these associations. level Ⅳ Food addiction (FA), a disorder defined by an insatiable need to consume high-calorie, sugary, and highly appealing meals more than energy requirements, is linked to having obesity, binge eating, and other medical, psychological, and social issues. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of FA among Palestinian university students, as well as the dietary, social, psychological, and lifestyle aspects that contribute to it. The study discovered a 21% FA prevalence in the sample group, with 18% having mild FA and 3% suffering from moderate to severe addiction. These rates are greater than in the overall population but lower than in previous research including university students. The study discovered a link between FA and a variety of variables, including smoking, chronic disease, a history of surgery, and a higher BMI. Individuals with a history of chronic illness and surgery were likely connected to FA, possibly due to the psychological impact of long-term illness and body image concerns. A Mediterranean diet was associated with lower levels of FA. Stress, anxiety, sadness, and poor sleep hygiene were all also increasing the likelihood of FA. These findings emphasize the diverse character of FA, which is influenced by biological, psychological, and environmental factors, as well as the need for additional research to investigate these complicated relationships.

The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation and nutritional counseling therapy on attentional bias to food cues: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Self-compassion (SC) and shame-proneness (SP) are likely transdiagnostic factors implicated in the onset and maintenance of eating disorders (EDs). However, limited research has examined how these variables vary across distinct ED symptom profiles. To address this gap, this exploratory study aimed to identify latent symptom profiles among individuals diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) or Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and assess whether SC and SP levels and their association differ across classes. Methods: A clinical sample of 55 women with AN or BN completed self-report measures for assessing drive for thinness (DT), bulimia (BUL), body dissatisfaction (BD), self-compassion (SC), and SP. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was conducted, followed by ANOVA and moderation analysis. Results: LPA revealed three distinct profiles: (1) Low-symptom (i.e., low DT and BUL, moderate BD), (2) Restrictive (i.e., high DT and BD, low BUL), and (3) Multi-symptomatic (i.e., medium-high DT, BUL, and BD). SC significantly differed across profiles, with the Low-symptom group reporting higher SC than the others. No significant differences in SP were found. SC was negatively associated with ED symptoms and significantly moderated the relationship between SP and BD, but not DT or BUL. Conclusions: Findings highlight the heterogeneity of ED symptomatology and the importance of SC as a protective factor, particularly against body dissatisfaction.

Racial trauma, defined as the psychological and physiological harm caused by racism and racial discrimination, has been associated with mental health problems. Although traumatic experiences have consistently and robustly been associated with eating disorders, it is unknown whether racial trauma is associated with eating disorders. This study examined the link between racial trauma symptoms and positive eating disorder screens using a large, population-based sample of US college students. Cross-sectional data came from young adults (18-30 years) in the 2022-2023 Healthy Minds Study (n = 57,439). Associations between racial trauma symptoms and positive eating disorder screens (SCOFF ≥ 2) were examined using modified Poisson regression models adjusted for age, sex, race-ethnicity, and financial situation growing up. Associations were examined among the overall sample and then stratified by race-ethnicity and sex. Nearly one-third (31.7%) of the sample screened positive for an eating disorder. Among the overall sample, racial trauma symptoms were associated with positive eating disorder screens (prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.51, 1.66). This association was stronger for males than females among the whole sample (interaction p < 0.001) and among most races and ethnicities. The association of racial trauma with positive eating disorder screens was strongest for Non-Hispanic Black individuals (PR: 2.08; 95% CI: 1.75, 2.48), with about equal magnitude for males and females. Racial trauma symptoms may be a modifiable risk factor for eating disorders to target in treatment and prevention efforts across races and ethnicities, with particular relevance for non-Hispanic Black young adults.