Subjective binge eating with compensatory behaviors: a variant presentation of bulimia nervosa

Mindful eating, intuitive eating, and the loss of control over eating

BACKGROUND

The loss of control over eating (LOCE) is frequently cited as a core process of eating disturbances. In contrast, mindful eating and intuitive eating have been identified as adaptive styles of eating and have been associated with positive psychological constructs. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate whether mindful or intuitive eating are potential protective factors for the loss of control over eating.

METHODS

1155 participants (64.2 % female) were recruited from a large university. Participants were administered select subscales of the Intuitive Eating Scale - 2nd edition (IES-2) and Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ), and the brief Loss of Control over Eating Scale (LOCES-B).

RESULTS

Controlling for BMI and age, intuitive and mindful eating were significantly associated with LOCE, F (8,966) = 114.78, p < .001, R² = 0.49. Both IES-2 subscales were negatively associated with LOCE: 1) eating for physical rather than emotional reasons and 2) reliance on hunger and satiety cues, p < .001. One MEQ subscale was negatively associated with LOCE: disinhibition, p < .001. The MEQ subscales assessing awareness and external cues were not significantly associated with LOCE.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that while some forms of mindful eating and intuitive eating are potential protective factors, others may be less relevant to LOCE. These findings have implications for treatment, as they suggest intuitive eating may counteract the loss of control over eating. The findings also provide evidence for convergent validity of the LOCES by clarifying positive constructs that may protect against the development of this core eating pathology.

Subjective and objective binge episodes in relation to eating disorder and depressive symptoms among middle-aged women

PURPOSE

Evidence suggests loss of control over eating may be the driving component of binge eating, a transdiagnostic symptom of eating disorders and highly comorbid with depressive symptoms. Prior studies have evaluated eating disorder and depressive symptoms across types of binge episodes among adolescent and young adult samples, yet no studies have focused on middle-aged women who may be particularly vulnerable to both binge eating and depressive symptoms. The goal of this study was to compare eating disorder symptoms and depressive symptoms across different types of binge eating episodes among middle-aged women.

METHODS

Women (N = 347), ages 40-63, completed an online survey about both objective (OBE) and subjective binge episodes (SBE), eating disorder symptoms, and depressive symptoms. Participants were categorized as OBEs only, SBEs only, both OBEs and SBEs, and no binge eating.

RESULTS

Controlling for group differences, results showed middle-aged women who experienced SBEs only reported greater levels of anorexia nervosa attitudes and behaviors compared to all other groups, and greater dietary restraint compared to those who experienced only OBEs and those with no binge eating. Middle-aged women who experienced any type of binge eating reported greater levels of body image concerns and depressive symptoms compared to those who reported no binge eating.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that loss of control is more clinically relevant in terms of associations with eating disorder and depressive symptoms in middle-aged women.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level V based on descriptive studies.

Binge size and loss of control as correlates of eating behavior and psychopathology among individuals with binge eating disorder and higher weight

Studies comparing individuals with loss of control (LOC) eating who do and do not have objectively large binge episodes have found that degree of LOC is more important than binge size to psychological and behavioral outcomes. However, the relative importance of these characteristics has not been investigated in a population with binge eating disorder (BED), who by definition all have objectively large binge episodes. Persons with BED and higher weight (N = 34) were enrolled in a BED treatment trial and completed the Loss of Control Over Eating Scale, the Eating Disorder Examination, and measures of eating behavior, mood, and quality of life. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from measured height and weight. The size of the largest binge episode (measured in kilocalories) and degree of LOC were entered into multiple regression equations to determine their relationships with disordered eating symptoms, depression, quality of life, and BMI in this pilot study. Greater LOC had a stronger independent association than binge size with higher total eating psychopathology, shape dissatisfaction, hunger, food cravings and food addiction symptoms. Larger binge size had a stronger independent association than LOC with higher weight concern and lower general and social quality of life. Both characteristics were associated with higher eating concern and neither were associated with depression or BMI. Both binge size and degree of LOC are associated with important psychosocial treatment targets in patients with BED. Future research should validate the largest binge episode measurement method and replicate the present findings in a larger sample.

Patient descriptions of loss of control and eating episode size interact to influence expert diagnosis of ICD-11 binge-eating disorder

BACKGROUND

Although data suggest that the sense of "loss of control" (LOC) is the most salient aspect of binge eating, the definition of LOC varies widely across eating disorder assessments. The WHO ICD-11 diagnostic guidelines for binge eating do not require an objectively large amount of food, which makes accurate LOC diagnosis even more critical. However, it can be especially challenging to assess LOC in the context of elevated weight status and in the absence of compensatory behaviors. This ICD-11 field sub-study examined how descriptions of subjective experience during distressing eating episodes, in combination with different eating episode sizes, influence diagnoses of binge-eating disorder (BED).

METHOD

Mental health professionals with eating disorder expertise from WHO's Global Clinical Practice Network (N = 192) participated in English, Japanese, and Spanish. Participants were asked to select the correct diagnosis for two randomly assigned case vignettes and to rate the clinical importance and ease of use of each BED diagnostic guideline.

RESULTS

The presence of LOC interacted with episode size to predict whether a correct diagnostic conclusion was reached. If the amount consumed during a typical distressing eating episode was only subjectively large compared to objectively large, clinicians were 23.1 times more likely to miss BED than to correctly diagnose it, and they were 9.7 times more likely to incorrectly diagnose something else than to correctly diagnose BED. In addition, clinicians were 10.8 times more likely to make a false positive diagnosis of BED when no LOC was described if the episode was objectively large. Descriptions of LOC that were reliably associated with correct diagnoses across episodes sizes included two that are similar to those already included in proposed ICD-11 guidelines and a third that is not. This third description of LOC focuses on giving up attempts to control eating because perceived overeating feels inevitable.

CONCLUSIONS

Results highlight the importance of detailed clarification of the LOC construct in future guidelines. Explicitly distinguishing LOC from distressing and mindless overeating could help promote consistent and accurate diagnosis of BED versus another or no eating disorder.

Investigating Early Response to Treatment in a Multi-Site Study for Adolescent Bulimia Nervosa

BACKGROUND

This secondary data analysis seeks to replicate and extend findings that early response to treatment in adolescent bulimia nervosa (BN) predicts outcome, resulting in earlier identification of patients who might need a different treatment approach.

METHODS

Participants were 71 adolescents (M ± SD: 15.69 ± 1.55 years; 93% female; 75% non-Hispanic) with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4^th Edition (DSM-IV) diagnosis of BN or partial BN enrolled in a two-site treatment study. Participants were randomized to cognitive behavioral therapy for adolescents (CBT-A), family-based treatment for BN (FBT-BN), or supportive psychotherapy (SPT). The Eating Disorder Examination was administered at baseline, end-of-treatment (EOT), 6-month, and 12-month follow-up. Binge eating and purge symptoms were self-reported at each session. Outcome was defined as abstinence of binge eating and compensatory behaviors (self-induced vomiting, laxative use, diet pills, diuretics, compensatory exercise, fasting) in the 28 days prior to assessment. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were utilized to assess the viability of predicting treatment outcomes based on reduction of symptoms within the first 10 sessions of treatment.

RESULTS

ROC analyses suggest that reduction in purging at session 2 (AUC =.799, p < .001) and binge eating at session 4 (AUC =.750, p < .01) were independently related to abstinence of symptoms at EOT, regardless of treatment type. Symptom reduction later in treatment predicted outcome at follow-up, as change in binge eating at session 8 and purging at session 9 were the strongest predictors of abstinence at 6-month follow-up (AUCs =.726-.763, ps < .01). Change in binge eating, but not purging behaviors, was significantly related to abstinence at 12-month follow-up (AUC =.766, p < .01). Only slight differences emerged based on treatment group, such that reductions in symptoms most predictive of abstinence at EOT occurred one session sooner in FBT-BN than SPT.

CONCLUSION

Reductions in binge eating and purge symptoms early in adolescent BN treatment suggest better outcome, regardless of treatment modality. Additional research with larger samples is needed to better understand which treatments, if any, contribute to earlier change in BN symptoms and/or likelihood of improved patient response.

The classification of feeding and eating disorders in the ICD-11: results of a field study comparing proposed ICD-11 guidelines with existing ICD-10 guidelines

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization (WHO) International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) is used globally by 194 WHO member nations. It is used for assigning clinical diagnoses, providing the framework for reporting public health data, and to inform the organization and reimbursement of health services. Guided by overarching principles of increasing clinical utility and global applicability, the 11th revision of the ICD proposes major changes that incorporate empirical advances since the previous revision in 1992. To test recommended changes in the Mental, Behavioral, and Neurodevelopmental Disorders chapter, multiple vignette-based case-controlled field studies have been conducted which examine clinicians' ability to accurately and consistently use the new guidelines and assess their overall clinical utility. This manuscript reports on the results from the study of the proposed ICD-11 guidelines for feeding and eating disorders (FEDs).

METHOD

Participants were 2288 mental health professionals registered with WHO's Global Clinical Practice Network. The study was conducted in Chinese, English, French, Japanese, and Spanish. Clinicians were randomly assigned to apply either the ICD-11 or ICD-10 diagnostic guidelines for FEDs to a pair of case vignettes designed to test specific clinical questions. Clinicians selected the diagnosis they thought was correct for each vignette, evaluated the presence of each essential feature of the selected diagnosis, and the clinical utility of the diagnostic guidelines.

RESULTS

The proposed ICD-11 diagnostic guidelines significantly improved accuracy for all FEDs tested relative to ICD-10 and attained higher clinical utility ratings; similar results were obtained across all five languages. The inclusion of binge eating disorder and avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder reduced the use of residual diagnoses. Areas needing further refinement were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed ICD-11 diagnostic guidelines consistently outperformed ICD-10 in distinguishing cases of eating disorders and showed global applicability and appropriate clinical utility. These results suggest that the proposed ICD-11 guidelines for FEDs will help increase accuracy of public health data, improve clinical diagnosis, and enhance health service organization and provision. This is the first time in the revision of the ICD that data from large-scale, empirical research examining proposed guidelines is completed in time to inform the final diagnostic guidelines.

Men who engage in both subjective and objective binge eating have the highest psychological and medical comorbidities

Data suggest that assessing for the presence of loss of control (LOC) while eating is more useful in identifying risk for excess weight gain and psychosocial comorbidities than focusing on the amount of food consumed during episodes of perceived overeating. Yet, most of this research has included children and women. The current study examined whether perceived overeating patterns with and without LOC were uniquely associated with eating- and weight-related comorbidities in a community sample of young men. Participants (N = 1114; 18-30 y) completed a brief online survey assessing body mass index (BMI); perceived overeating habits, including overeating without LOC (OEs), and subjective (SBEs) and objective binge eating episodes (OBEs); weight-related medical comorbidities; and disordered eating pathology. After adjusting for BMI and race/ethnicity, men who reported engaging in both OBE(s) and SBE(s) were the most likely to have a weight-related medical comorbidity, and reported the highest levels of dietary restraint, concerns about body fat, and excessive exercise pathology. Group differences remained even after adjusting for frequency of disordered eating episodes, a common indicator of severity of comorbid pathology. The current study's findings suggest that young men who engage in both OBE(s) and SBE(s) may be at the highest risk for chronic disease and psychological concerns, although additional studies with prospective data are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.

Are loss of control while eating and overeating valid constructs? A critical review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Binge eating is a marker of weight gain and obesity, and a hallmark feature of eating disorders. Yet its component constructs - overeating and loss of control (LOC) while eating - are poorly understood and difficult to measure.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to critically review the human literature concerning the validity of LOC and overeating across the age and weight spectrum.

DATA SOURCES

English-language articles addressing the face, convergent, discriminant and predictive validity of LOC and overeating were included.

RESULTS

Loss of control and overeating appear to have adequate face validity. Emerging evidence supports the convergent and predictive validity of the LOC construct, given its unique cross-sectional and prospective associations with numerous anthropometric, psychosocial and eating behaviour-related factors. Overeating may be best conceptualized as a marker of excess weight status.

LIMITATIONS

Binge eating constructs, particularly in the context of subjectively large episodes, are challenging to measure reliably. Few studies addressed overeating in the absence of LOC, thereby limiting conclusions about the validity of the overeating construct independent of LOC. Additional studies addressing the discriminant validity of both constructs are warranted.

DISCUSSION

Suggestions for future weight-related research and for appropriately defining binge eating in the eating disorders diagnostic scheme are presented.

A systematic review of the health-related quality of life and economic burdens of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder

PURPOSE

To perform a systematic review of the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and economic burdens of anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED).

METHODS

A systematic literature search of English-language studies was performed in Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Plus, Business Source Premier, and Cochrane Library. Cost data were converted to 2014 Euro.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine studies were included. Data on HRQoL were reported in 41 studies (18 for AN, 17 for BN, and 18 for BED), on healthcare utilization in 20 studies (14 for AN, 12 for BN, and 8 for BED), and on healthcare costs in 17 studies (9 for AN, 11 for BN, and only 2 for BED). Patients' HRQoL was significantly worse with AN, BN, and BED compared with healthy populations. AN, BN, and BED were associated with a high rate of hospitalization, outpatient care, and emergency department visits. However, patients rarely received specific treatment for their eating disorder. The annual healthcare costs for AN, BN, and BED were €2993 to €55,270, €888 to €18,823, and €1762 to €2902, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

AN, BN, and BED have a serious impact on patient's HRQoL and are also associated with increased healthcare utilization and healthcare costs. The burden of BED should be examined separately from that of BN. The limited evidence suggests that further research is warranted to better understand the differences in long-term HRQoL and economic burdens of AN, BN, and BED.

Incremental validity of the episode size criterion in binge-eating definitions: An examination in women with purging syndromes

OBJECTIVE

Of the two primary features of binge eating, loss of control (LOC) eating is well validated while the role of eating episode size is less clear. Given the ICD-11 proposal to eliminate episode size from the binge-eating definition, the present study examined the incremental validity of the size criterion, controlling for LOC.

METHOD

Interview and questionnaire data come from four studies of 243 women with bulimia nervosa (n = 141) or purging disorder (n = 102). Hierarchical linear regression tested if the largest reported episode size, coded in kilocalories, explained additional variance in eating disorder features, psychopathology, personality traits, and impairment, holding constant LOC eating frequency, age, and body mass index (BMI). Analyses also tested if episode size moderated the association between LOC eating and these variables.

RESULTS

Holding LOC constant, episode size explained significant variance in disinhibition, trait anxiety, and eating disorder-related impairment. Episode size moderated the association of LOC eating with purging frequency and depressive symptoms, such that in the presence of larger eating episodes, LOC eating was more closely associated with these features. Neither episode size nor its interaction with LOC explained additional variance in BMI, hunger, restraint, shape concerns, state anxiety, negative urgency, or global functioning.

DISCUSSION

Taken together, results support the incremental validity of the size criterion, in addition to and in combination with LOC eating, for defining binge-eating episodes in purging syndromes. Future research should examine the predictive validity of episode size in both purging and nonpurging eating disorders (e.g., binge eating disorder) to inform nosological schemes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:651-662).

Comparing symptomatic and functional outcomes over 5 years in two nonclinical cohorts characterized by binge eating with and without objectively large episodes

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to compare symptomatic and functional outcomes over 5 years in women with regular subjective (SBEs), objective (OBEs), and no regular binge eating episodes.

METHOD

Data were derived from two cohorts of 330 women with high levels of eating disorders symptoms followed over 5 years. Three groups were formed: (a) regular SBEs but no regular OBEs (N = 68), (b) regular OBEs with or without regular SBEs (N = 154), and (c) with no regular binge eating episodes (N = 108).

RESULTS

At baseline, the groups did not differ significantly in restraint scores and quality of life. People in the OBE group scored higher than those in the SBE group in body mass index (BMI). Those who had no regular binge eating had lower global Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and weight and shape concern scores than those with regular SBEs, and lower eating concern scores than either binge eating groups. Across the follow-up, there were no significant effects of being in either binge eating or the nonbinge eating group on the rates of change in BMI, general psychological distress, quality of life, or EDE-Q scores with the exception that OBE group had a significantly different rate of change in eating concern and psychological distress compared to the group without regular binge eating.

DISCUSSION

Individuals that report regular SBEs without regular OBEs represent a group with similar mental hardship and outcomes to those with regular OBEs. The findings support inclusion of regular SBEs in criteria for eating disorder diagnostic categories characterized by recurrent binge eating.

Anxiety and compulsion patterns in the maintenance of bingeing/purging behaviours by individuals with bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa, if not treated or if treated unsuccessfully, can develop into a severe and enduring eating disorder. Analysis of self-management of Seed-BN indicates that individuals frequently experience significant negative mental health issues and a complex relationship with medication management. Two discrete patterns of coping strategies to prevent deterioration in distressing symptoms were in evidence, controlled vomiting, which was related to the management of anxiety, and uncontrolled vomiting due to more dominant self-management of compulsive acts. The implications for nursing revolve around accurate assessment of vomiting and subsequent engagement by the individual with their coping strategies in relation to perceived deterioration in distressing symptoms. This paper reports on the results of a study into the self-reported coping strategies employed by a small sample (n = 12) of individuals diagnosed with bulimia nervosa purging sub-type, severe and enduring eating disorder (Seed-BN), referred to an outpatient clinic for psychotherapy. Data collection focused on the vomiting activities of participants through analysis of their self-management from diary extracts, which recorded vomiting patterns. Participants all experienced significant mental health issues, had complex histories of BN over a prolonged period, difficulties maintaining relationships, and many had an additional history of substance misuse including dependence on prescription drugs. The study findings indicated two different self-management strategies, anxiety containment and compulsion maintenance. There was a clear association between anxiety and controlled weekly vomiting patterns compared with compulsion and daily vomiting patterns. The implications for nursing practice relate to the potential for assessment of differences in vomiting patterns to indicate self-management status and subsequent interventions focusing on either anxiety or compulsive patterns.

Eating disorder symptoms, psychiatric correlates and self-image in normal, overweight and obese eating disorder patients

The impression from Swedish eating disorder (ED) units is that there has been an increase in the number of overweight or obese patients. There is, however, no research studying whether these patients differ from normal-weight ED patients in other aspects than weight. Differences between normal-weight and overweight or obese ED patients could indicate that these groups of patients need different treatment approaches. The aim of this study was to investigate possible differences between normal-weight and overweight or obese ED patients in psychiatric and psychological pre-treatment variables. The study was based on data from a Swedish quality assurance system for ED care. In total, data from 3,798 adult patients with body mass index ≥ 18.5 were used. The sample included all normal-weight ED diagnoses. Significant differences between normal-weight, overweight and obese patients were found for five of eight self-image variables, for all eating disorder examination questionnaire subscales and for most key diagnostic symptoms. However, effect sizes were mostly small or very small. Overweight or obese patients did not display greater levels of psychiatric psychopathology than normal-weight patients. They did, however, show a tendency towards more negative self-image and more severe ED symptoms than normal-weight patients. Overweight and obesity in ED patients are thus not only associated with physical health problems, but also with mental health issues. Further studies are required to investigate the clinical relevance of these findings.

An investigation of objective and subjective types of binge eating episodes in a clinical sample of people with co-morbid obesity

BACKGROUND

Objective binge eating episodes (OBEs) refer to binge eating on an unusually large amount of food and are the core symptom in current definitions of bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED). Subjective binge eating episodes (SBEs) refer to eating on a small or moderate amount of food (that is perceived as large) and like OBEs are associated with loss of control (LOC). Reaching consensus on what is considered a large amount of food can however be problematic and it remains unclear if the size of a binge is an essential component for defining a binge eating episode. The aim of this study was to compare the eating disorder features and general psychopathology of subjects reporting OBEs with those reporting only SBEs.

METHODS

This is a retrospective secondary analysis of data from 70 obese participants at the recruitment phase of a multicentre trial for BED. Individuals who answered positively to the presence of binge eating and LOC over eating had their binge eating episodes further explored by interview and self-report. Two groups, those who reported current OBEs (with or without SBEs) and those who reported current SBEs only were compared for age, gender, marital status, body mass index (BMI), indicators of LOC over eating, severity of binge-eating and associated psychopathology.

RESULTS

The majority of participants in both the OBE and SBE groups endorsed the experience of at least four indicators of LOC. There were no significant differences between the groups. Both groups had high levels of binge-eating severity, moderate severity of associated depressive symptoms and frequent psychiatric co-morbidity.

CONCLUSION

Treatment seeking participants with obesity who reported SBEs alone were similar to those who reported OBEs in terms of eating disorder features and general psychopathology. These findings suggest that classificatory systems of mental illnesses should consider introducing SBEs as a feature of the diagnostic criteria for binge eating and, thus, facilitate the inclusion of participants with SBEs in treatment trials.