The relationship between eating disorder psychopathology and health-related quality of life within a community sample

Purpose  

Recent research has begun investigating the impact of eating disorders on health-related quality of life (QOL). The present study examined the impact of eating disorder psychopathology on QOL within a community sample.     

POPS: a school-based prevention programme for eating disorders

Aim  

Disordered eating is a significant social and economic issue in Western societies. Weight and shape concerns are highly prevalent during adolescence and an alarming percentage of adolescents already show disturbed eating patterns. Sociocultural factors like the beauty ideal promoted by the media and social agents are among the main reasons for this trend. Prevention programmes which focus on established protective and risk factors are needed to counteract problematic developments as early as possible.     

Validation of a measure of the Satter eating competence model with low-income females

Background  

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the construct validity of a version of the ecSatter Inventory (ecSI), a measure of eating competence (EC), as adapted for use in a low-income (LI) population.     

Course and predictors of maternal eating disorders in the postpartum period

Objective:

To investigate course and predictors of eating disorders in the postpartum period.

Method:

A total of 77,807 women, participating in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), completed questionnaires during pregnancy including items covering DSM‐IV criteria for prepregnancy anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS‐P), and binge eating disorder (BED). Additional questionnaires were completed at 18 and 36 months postpartum.

Results:

Proportions of women remitting at 18 months and 36 months postpartum were 50% and 59% for AN, 39% and 30% for BN, 46% and 57% for EDNOS‐P, and 45% and 42% for BED, respectively. However, disordered eating persisted in a substantial proportion of women meeting criteria for either full or subthreshold eating disorders. BN during pregnancy increased the risk for continuation of BN. BMI and psychological distress were significantly associated with course of BED.

Discussion:

This is the first large‐scale population‐based study on course of eating disorders in the postpartum period. The results indicated that disordered eating persists in a substantial proportion of women with prepregnancy eating disorders. Health care professionals working with women in this phase of life need to pay specific attention to eating disorder symptoms and behaviors. © 2013 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2013)     

Munch and Move: evaluation of a preschool healthy eating and movement skill program

Background  

Early childhood services have been identified as a key setting for promoting healthy eating and physical activity as a means of preventing overweight and obesity. However, there is limited evidence on effective nutrition and physical activity programs in this setting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Munch and Move, a low-intensity, state-wide, professional development program designed to support early childhood professionals to promote healthy eating and physical activity among children in their care.     

Mediators of longitudinal associations between television viewing and eating behaviours in adolescents

Background  

Television viewing has been associated with poor eating behaviours in adolescents. Changing unhealthy eating behaviours is most likely to be achieved by identifying and targeting factors shown to mediate the association between these behaviours. However, little is known about the mediators of the associations between television viewing and eating behaviours. The aim of this study was to examine mediators of the longitudinal associations between television viewing (TV) and eating behaviours among Australian adolescents.     

Quality of life among caregivers of patients with eating disorders

Purpose  

To analyse health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its associated social and clinical variables among a sample of caregivers of patients with eating disorders (ED).     

Maternal feeding practices,child eating behaviour and body mass index in preschool-aged children: a prospective analysis

Background  

Previous research has found associations between parental feeding practices and children's eating behaviour and weight status. Prospective research is needed to elucidate these relationships.     

Development and validation of the Accommodation and Enabling Scale for Eating Disorders (AESED) for caregivers in eating disorders

Background  

Families of people with eating disorders are often caught up in rule bound eating and safety behaviours that characterise the illness. The main aim of this study was to develop a valid and specific scale to measure family accommodation in the context of having a relative with an eating disorder.     

Healthy eating and obesity prevention for preschoolers: a randomised controlled trial

Background  

Developing effective prevention and intervention programs for the formative preschool years is seen as an essential step in combating the obesity epidemic across the lifespan. The overall goal of the current project is to measure the effectiveness of a healthy eating and childhood obesity prevention intervention, the MEND (Mind Exercise Nutrition Do It!) program that is delivered to parents of children aged 2-4 years.     

Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior to healthy eating behaviors in urban Native American youth

Background  

To investigate the efficacy of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to predict healthy eating behavior in a group of urban Native American youth.     

Problem eating behaviors related to social factors and body weight in preschool children: A longitudinal study

Background  

Despite the increasing prevalence of overweight/obesity and its association to eating patterns in adolescents and adults, little is known about the relationship between problematic eating behaviours and body weight in the preschool years within the context of various social factors. This research aims to analyze the relationship between social factors, mothers' perceptions of their child's eating behaviour (picky eating and overeating), and body weight in preschool years, in a population-based cohort of preschoolers from Québec (Canada).     

Features of automaticity in eating behavior

Objective

Some authors (e.g. Cohen & Farley, 2008) have argued that control of eating behavior is difficult because this behavior could be an automatic one. Our objective was to test this claim in an experimental design.

Method

Automaticity can be diagnosed by looking for the presence of its features in performance or processes. We designed an experiment to test the features of uncontrollability and unconsciousness.

Results

Results showed that individuals' success in controlling their behavior does not depend on their goal or the instruction received (uncontrollability), although individuals believe their goals justify their behavior (unconsciousness). High scores on cognitive restraint were predictive for the success in control of eating behavior.

Conclusion

Eating has features of automatic behavior, thus can be diagnosed as such. Our results bear important implications for the research and practice concerning eating behavior, especially obesity.     

Perceptions on the use of pricing strategies to stimulate healthy eating among residents of deprived neighbourhoods: a focus group study

Background  

Pricing strategies are mentioned frequently as a potentially effective tool to stimulate healthy eating, mainly for consumers with a low socio-economic status. Still, it is not known how these consumers perceive pricing strategies, which pricing strategies are favoured and what contextual factors are important in achieving the anticipated effects.     

Comparison of DSM-IV versus proposed DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for eating disorders: reduction of eating disorder not otherwise specified and validity

Objective:

Revised Eating Disorder (ED) diagnostic criteria have been proposed for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)‐5 to reduce the preponderance of eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) and increase the validity of diagnostic groups. This article compares DSM‐IV and proposed DSM‐5 diagnostic criteria on number of EDNOS cases and validity.

Method:

Participants (N = 397; 91% female) completed structured clinical interviews in a two‐stage epidemiological study of EDs. Interviewers did not follow standard skip rules, making it possible to evaluate alternative ED diagnostic criteria.

Results:

Using DSM‐IV versus DSM‐5 criteria, 34 (14%) versus 48 (20%) had anorexia nervosa, 43 (18%) versus 44 (18%) had bulimia nervosa, and 163 (68%) had EDNOS versus 20 (8%) had binge eating disorder (BED), and 128 (53%) had EDNOS, respectively, reflecting a significant decrease in EDNOS. Validation analyses supported significant differences among groups with some improvement associated with delineation of BED.

Discussion:

Proposed revisions to EDs in the DSM‐5 significantly reduced reliance on EDNOS without loss of information. © 2011 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Is healthy behavior contagious: associations of social norms with physical activity and healthy eating

Background  

Social norms are theoretically hypothesized to influence health-related behaviors such as physical activity and eating behaviors. However, empirical evidence relating social norms to these behaviors, independently of other more commonly-investigated social constructs such as social support, is scarce and findings equivocal, perhaps due to limitations in the ways in which social norms have been conceptualized and assessed. This study investigated associations between clearly-defined social norms and a range of physical activity and eating behaviors amongst women, adjusting for the effects of social support.     

Gender,school and academic year differences among Spanish university students at high-risk for developing an eating disorder: An epidemiologic study

Background  

The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of the university population at high-risk of developing an eating disorder and the prevalence of unhealthy eating attitudes and behaviours amongst groups at risk; gender, school or academic year differences were also explored.     

Duloxetine in the treatment of binge eating disorder with depressive disorders: a placebo-controlled trial

Objective:

This study evaluated duloxetine in the treatment of binge eating disorder (BED) with comorbid current depressive disorders.

Method:

In this 12‐week, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial, 40 patients with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders‐IV‐TR BED and a comorbid current depressive disorder received duloxetine (N = 20) or placebo (N = 20). The primary outcome measure was weekly binge eating day frequency.

Results:

In the primary analysis, duloxetine (mean 78.7 mg/day) was superior to placebo in reducing weekly frequency of binge eating days (p = .04), binge eating episodes (p = .02), weight (p = .04), and Clinical Global Impression‐Severity of Illness ratings for binge eating (p = .02) and depressive disorders (p = .01). Changes in body mass index and measures of eating pathology, depression, and anxiety did not differ between the two groups.

Discussion:

Duloxetine may be effective for reducing binge eating, weight, and global severity of illness in BED with a comorbid current depressive disorder, but this finding needs confirmation in larger, placebo‐controlled trials. © 2011 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2012)     

Development and validation of an Eating Disorders Symptom Impact Scale (EDSIS) for carers of people with eating disorders

Background  

Family members of relatives with eating disorders experience high levels of distress due to the difficulties in their care giving role. However no measures have been developed to measure the specific impact that an individual with an eating disorder has on family life. The aim of this study was to develop a measure to assess the specific caregiving burden of both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. A secondary aim was to examine whether this measure was sensitive to change.     

Associations between body mass index,weight control concerns and behaviors,and eating disorder symptoms among non-clinical Chinese adolescents

Background  

Previous research with adolescents has shown associations of body weight, weight control concerns and behaviors with eating disorder symptoms, but it is unclear whether these associations are direct or whether a mediating effect exists. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity, weight control concerns and behaviors, and eating disorder symptoms and to examine the mediating function of weight control concerns and behaviors on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and eating disorder symptoms among non-clinical adolescents in China.