It is well established that there is a substantial genetic component to eating disorders (EDs). Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) can be used to quantify cumulative genetic risk for a trait at an individual level. Recent studies suggest PRSs for anorexia nervosa (AN) may also predict risk for other disordered eating behaviors, but no study has examined if PRS for AN can predict disordered eating as a global continuous measure. This study aimed to investigate whether PRS for AN predicted overall levels of disordered eating, or specific lifetime disordered eating behaviors, in an Australian adolescent female population.

PRSs were calculated based on summary statistics from the largest Psychiatric Genomics Consortium AN genome-wide association study to date. Analyses were performed using genome-wide complex trait analysis to test the associations between AN PRS and disordered eating global scores, avoidance of eating, objective bulimic episodes, self-induced vomiting, and driven exercise in a sample of Australian adolescent female twins recruited from the Australian Twin Registry (N = 383).

After applying the false-discovery rate correction, the AN PRS was significantly associated with all disordered eating outcomes.

Findings suggest shared genetic etiology across disordered eating presentations and provide insight into the utility of AN PRS for predicting disordered eating behaviors in the general population. In the future, PRSs for EDs may have clinical utility in early disordered eating risk identification, prevention, and intervention.

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a common and disabling condition, typically presenting with multiple psychiatric and obesity-related comorbidities. Evidence-based treatments are either resource-intensive (psychotherapies) or have side-effects (medications): these achieve remission in around 50% of cases. Novel treatments are needed.

This randomised sham-controlled trial aimed to assess feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of at-home, self-administered transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and attention bias modification training (ABMT) in adults with binge eating disorder.

Eighty-two participants with binge eating disorder were randomly allocated to real tDCS with ABMT, sham tDCS with ABMT, ABMT only or waitlist control. Intervention groups received ten sessions of their allocated treatment over 2–3 weeks. tDCS (2 mA, 20 min) was self-administered using a bilateral (anode right/cathode left) montage targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-treatment and 6-week follow-up.

Prespecified feasibility criteria (recruitment ≥80 participants and retention rate ≥75%) were exceeded, and treatment completion rates were high (98.7%). All interventions reduced binge eating episodes, eating disorder symptoms and related psychopathology between baseline and follow-up, relative to waitlist control (medium-to-large between-group effect sizes for change scores). Small-to-medium effect sizes for change scores favoured real tDCS with ABMT versus comparators, suggesting the verum intervention produces superior outcomes.

At-home, self-administered tDCS with ABMT is feasible and acceptable, and preliminary data on efficacy are promising. This approach could be a useful and scalable alternative or adjunct to established treatments for binge eating disorder. Confirmatory trials can, and should, be pursued.

Timely intervention is beneficial to the effectiveness of eating disorder (ED) treatment, but limited capacity within ED services means that these disorders are often not treated with sufficient speed. This service evaluation extends previous research into guided self-help (GSH) for adults with bulimic spectrum EDs by assessing the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of virtually delivered GSH using videoconferencing.

Patients with bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED) and other specified feeding and eating disorders (OSFED) waiting for treatment in a large specialist adult ED out-patient service were offered virtually delivered GSH. The programme used an evidence-based cognitive behavioural self-help book. Individuals were supported by non-expert coaches, who delivered the eight-session programme via videoconferencing.

One hundred and thirty patients were allocated to a GSH coach between 1 September 2020 and 30 September 2022; 106 (82%) started treatment and 78 (60%) completed treatment. Amongst completers, there were large reductions in ED behaviours and attitudinal symptoms, measured by the ED-15. The largest effect sizes for change between pre- and post-treatment were seen for binge eating episode frequency (d = –0.89) and concerns around eating (d = –1.72). Patients from minoritised ethnic groups were over-represented in the non-completer group.

Virtually delivered GSH is feasible, acceptable and effective in reducing ED symptoms amongst those with bulimic spectrum disorders. Implementing virtually delivered GSH reduced waiting times, offering a potential solution for long waiting times for ED treatment. Further research is needed to compare GSH to other brief therapies and investigate barriers for patients from culturally diverse groups.

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a pernicious psychiatric disorder which is linked with broad medical and psychiatric morbidity, and obesity. While BED may be characterized by altered cortical morphometry, no evidence to date examined possible sex-differences in regional gray matter characteristics among those with BED. This is especially important to consider in children, where BED symptoms often emerge coincident with rapid gray matter maturation.

Pre-adolescent, 9–10-year old boys (N = 38) and girls (N = 33) with BED were extracted from the 3.0 baseline (Year 0) release of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. We investigated sex differences in gray matter density (GMD) via voxel-based morphometry. Control sex differences were also assessed in age and body mass index and developmentally matched control children (boys N = 36; girls N = 38). Among children with BED, we additionally assessed the association between dorsolateral prefrontal (dlPFC) GMD and parent-reported behavioral approach and inhibition tendencies.

Girls with BED uniquely demonstrate diffuse clusters of greater GMD (p < 0.05, Threshold Free Cluster Enhancement corrected) in the (i) left dlPFC (p = 0.003), (ii) bilateral dmPFC (p = 0.004), (iii) bilateral primary motor and somatosensory cortex (p = 0.0003) and (iv) bilateral precuneus (p = 0.007). Brain-behavioral associations suggest a unique negative correlation between GMD in the left dlPFC and behavioral approach tendencies among girls with BED.

Early-onset BED may be characterized by regional sex differences in terms of its underlying gray matter morphometry.

Current studies indicate a strong relationship between Eating Disorders and obesity, while studies on Bipolar Disorder (BPD) show that patients with BPD form an important risk group in terms of obesity.

The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency of Binge Eating Disorder (BED) in patients diagnosed with euthymic Bipolar Disorder 1 (BPD 1), and the relationship between their clinical features

This study included 150 patients between 18-65 years of age, diagnosed with euthymic BPD 1 according to DSM 5 criteria. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders, Structured Sociodemographic Form, Young Mania Scale, Beck Depression Scale, Eating Disorders Assessment Scale (EDAS) , Eating Attitude Test (EAT) were applied to participants.

A diagnosis of BED was detected in 19.3% of the patients. Body weight, highest weight and BMI values were significantly higher in those who were diagnosed with BED compared to those who were not diagnosed with BED. Most of the diagnosed with BED are women; gender was found to be determinant for BED. The total and subscale scores of EAT and EDAS of those with a diagnosis of BED were statistically significantly higher than those who did not. The rate of attacks with psychotic symptoms, rapid cycling and presence of suicide attempt were significantly higher in those with a diagnosis of BED compared to those who did not.

BED may be frequent in BPD 1 patients. Noticing BED in BPD1 patients might help both the more effective treatment of BPD and the prevention of obesity.

No significant relationships.

Binge-eating disorder (BED), is one of the most common eating disorder. Treatment aims to reduce binge-eating frequency and disordered eating–related cognitions, improve metabolic health and weight, and regulate mood (in patients with coexisting depression or anxiety)

The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate in a simple of 50 women with a binge eating disorder diagnosis compare with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Two groups were made, one with lisdexamfetamine and the other with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (fluoxetine). 20 women were in each group (total n=40). The doses depend of the binge symptoms and rates were from 30 to 70md/day for lisdexamfetamine and for fluoxetine the doses were from 20 to 60mg/day.

Binge behaviors decreased with a 50mg/day dose of lisdexamfetamine. The 70mg/day doses present also less binge behaviors but also more adverse events. The 30mg/day doses did not decrease binge-eating behaviors.

Lisdexamfetamine is the first pharmacological agent to receive FDA approval for use in adults with moderate to severe binge eating disorder. This study supports further assessment of lisdexamfetamine as a treatment option for decreasing binge eating behavior and also symptoms associated such as anxiety and obsessive and compulsive features in adults.Increased efficacy with increasing dosages of lisdexamfetamine suggests a dose-response relationship until 50mg/day. Women with a dose of 50mg/day of lisdexamfetamine report less adverse event, more adherence to treatment and improve their eating behaviors.

No significant relationships.

To advance knowledge regarding the etiology of eating disorders, we characterized the sequencing of eating disorder symptom emergence for adolescent girls who subsequently developed anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), and purging disorder (PD) for community-recruited adolescents and tested whether prodromal symptoms increased risk for future onset of each eating disorder.

Data collected from adolescent girls (N = 496; M age = 13.02, s.d. = 0.73) who completed a diagnostic interview annually over an 8-year period were used to address these aims.

For all four eating disorders, compensatory weight-control behaviors were the first behavioral symptom to emerge and weight/shape overvaluation was the first cognitive symptom to emerge. Moreover, lower-than-expected BMI predicted future AN onset, binge eating and all cognitive symptoms predicted future BN onset, weight/shape overvaluation predicted future BED onset, and compensatory behavior and all cognitive symptoms predicted future PD onset. These predictive effects were small-to-large in magnitude. Collectively, prodromal symptoms predicted an eating disorder onset with 83–87% accuracy.

Results suggest that compensatory weight-control behaviors and weight/shape overvaluation typically emerge before other prodromal symptoms in all eating disorders during adolescence. Moreover, different prodromal symptoms seem to predict future onset of different eating disorders. Screening adolescent girls for these prodromal symptoms and implementing indicated prevention programs designed to reduce these symptoms may prove effective in preventing future onset of eating disorders.

1. (1) What is the effectiveness of CBT-E among patients suffering from binge eating disorder?

2. (2) Does any subgroup of patients suffering from an eating disorder differentially benefit from CBT-E?

3. (3) What factors predict treatment response?

Behavioral features of binge eating disorder (BED) suggest abnormalities in reward and inhibitory control. Studies of adult populations suggest functional abnormalities in reward and inhibitory control networks. Despite behavioral markers often developing in children, the neurobiology of pediatric BED remains unstudied.

58 pre-adolescent children (aged 9–10-years) with BED (mBMI = 25.05; s.d. = 5.40) and 66 age, BMI and developmentally matched control children (mBMI = 25.78; s.d. = 0.33) were extracted from the 3.0 baseline (Year 0) release of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. We investigated group differences in resting-state functional MRI functional connectivity (FC) within and between reward and inhibitory control networks. A seed-based approach was employed to assess nodes in the reward [orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), nucleus accumbens, amygdala] and inhibitory control [dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)] networks via hypothesis-driven seed-to-seed analyses, and secondary seed-to-voxel analyses.

Findings revealed reduced FC between the dlPFC and amygdala, and between the ACC and OFC in pre-adolescent children with BED, relative to controls. These findings indicating aberrant connectivity between nodes of inhibitory control and reward networks were corroborated by the whole-brain FC analyses.

Early-onset BED may be characterized by diffuse abnormalities in the functional synergy between reward and cognitive control networks, without perturbations within reward and inhibitory control networks, respectively. The decreased capacity to regulate a reward-driven pursuit of hedonic foods, which is characteristic of BED, may in part, rest on this dysconnectivity between reward and inhibitory control networks.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) as a complementary approach in patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) or binge eating disorder (BED), and to assess how the reduction of the cognitive load of words related to eating disorders (ED) could constitute an intermediate factor explaining its global efficacy.

Eighty-eight women and men participated in clinical assessments upon inscription, prior to and following 8-week group MBCT. Mindfulness skills were assessed using the five facet mindfulness questionnaire; eating behaviors were assessed using the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ); comorbid pathologies were assessed using the beck depression index and the state-trait anxiety inventory. The cognitive load of words associated with ED was assessed through a modified version of the Stroop color naming task.

Mindfulness skills improved significantly (p < .05) after group MBCT. The improvement of TFEQ scores was accompanied by reduced levels of depressive mood and trait anxiety. The positive impact of MBCT on TFEQ score was directly related to an improvement of the performance in the Stroop task.

MBCT represents an interesting complementary therapy for patients with either BN or BED, at least when cognitive and behavioral domains are concerned. Such efficacy seems to be mediated by the reduction of the cognitive load associated with ED stimuli, which offers a possible explanation of how MBCT could reduce binge-eating behaviors. Other studies are needed, in independent centers, to focus more directly on core symptoms and long-term outcome.

Obesity has been associated with certain psychiatric disorders, especially in patients seeking treatment. It is known that obesity is not a psychiatric disorder in itself, however, it should be noted that a significant part of the population has some type of clinical eating disorder.

This study aims to assess levels of Binge Eating Disorder, Night Eating Syndrome and Emotional Eating patterns, according to different groups of Body Mass Index categories.

A sample of 220 subjects, aged between 18 and 81 years old, with an average age of 33 years participated in this study. 140 (63.6%) were female and 80 were male (36.4%) The sample was divided into three comparison groups, according to the Body Mass Index (BMI). The following measures were used: Sociodemographic questionnaire, Binge Eating Scale, Night Eating Habits Questionnaire, and the Emotional Eating Scale.

When comparing the different BMI groups, it was found that obese subjects were the ones that most reported binge eating behavior. Overweight subjects had higher levels of binge eating when compared to normal-weight participants, but this was not true for Night Eating habits. Subjects with normal weight reported more nocturnal eating behavior, followed by obese individuals.

The prevalence of binge eating disorder seems to be more frequent in obese people, tending to increase according to the level of severity of obesity. Normal-weight subjects reported more nocturnal eating behavior, so they may be more likely to develop this syndrome and, consequently, overweight or obesity.

Therapeutic Education (TE) is a powerful tool in the multidisciplinary intervention to improve lifestyle and acquire management skills for chronic diseases, including obesity, a clinical condition whose cure is highly threatened by low long-term adherence to therapeutic recommendations. The urgent need to promote persistent lifestyle change and concordance to treatment in PwO is globally recognized. TE programs offer a vast number of long-term management skills, but it yet deals with a consistent drop-out rate, and we believe that Assistive Technologies (AT) can become a powerful tool to boost independence and improve participation.

The goal of our study was to devise and validate an innovative multidisciplinary approach to obesity and binge eating disorder, based on the sinergy between the medical-psychological field and assistive techonolgy.

We developed “TERESA” (Therapeutic Educational Robot Enhancing Social interActions) (fig. 1), a social humanoid robot, and implemented it to collaborate in a TE programs in order to enhance social interactions, improve knowledge acquisition and adherence to treatment. The specific TE intervention, called Education towards Choice and Awareness, was based on 3rd generation cognitive-behavioral approaches and consisted in eight informative and experimental meetings.

Taking part in the TE-TERESA integrated protocol determined and improvement in psychopathological domains (anxiety, negative mood, quality of life) and a stronger concordance to the therapeutic protocol.

Our research paves the way for the clinical use of Assistive technology (AT), highly promoted by the WHO to help people with numerous disabling clinical conditions improve their quality of life and acquire self-management skills.

The COVID19 outbreak has disrupted the mental health of resident doctors who had to care for patients. Eating disorders were among these reported mental health problems.

To screen binge eating disorder among young Tunisian doctors and its associated factors.

We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical online-based survey, from April 19, 2020, to May 5, 2020 on 180 medical residents in training. We sent the survey via a google form link. We used a self-administered anonymous questionnaire containing sociodemographic and clinical data of young doctors. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria were used to assess Binge-Eating Disorder.

Among 180 young doctors who enrolled the survey, 70,2% were female, 16% were married. The mean age was 29 years. 51,1% were frontline caregivers, working directly in diagnosing, treating or caring for patients with coronavirus disease. Among our participants, 5% presented anxiety disorder, another 5 % presented depression disorder and 1,7% had eating disorder. Binge eating disorder were present among 8,9 % of participants and it was associated to personal history of eating disorder (7,7% vs 1,1%, p<10-3), past history of depression disorder (7,2% vs 3,3%, p=0.008), exposure to media or news about coronavirus outbreak (0.5% vs 8,3%, p=0.04).

Our study indicated the evolving proportion of binge eating disorder among young doctors. Screening eating disorder is important in order to prevent related physical health problems.