Gender differences in individuals with obesity and binge eating disorder: A retrospective comparison of phenotypical features and treatment outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Phenotypical comparisons between individuals with obesity without binge eating disorder (OB) and individuals with obesity and comorbid binge eating disorder (OB + BED) are subject to ongoing investigations. At the same time, gender-related differences have rarely been explored, raising the question whether men and women with OB and OB + BED may require differently tailored treatments. METHOD: We retrospectively compared pre- versus post-treatment data in a matched sample of n = 180 men and n = 180 women with OB or OB + BED who received inpatient treatment. RESULTS: We found that men displayed higher weight loss than women independent of diagnostic group. In addition, men with OB + BED showed higher weight loss than men with OB after 7 weeks of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings add to an emerging yet overall still sparse body of studies comparing phenotypical features and treatment outcomes in men and women with OB and OB + BED; implications for further research are discussed. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was prospectively registered with the German Clinical Trial Register as part of application DRKS00028441.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating disorders: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: A growing body of evidence suggests that individuals with eating disorders (EDs) have experienced deteriorating symptoms, increased isolation, and an increase in hospital admissions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, no systematic reviews have been conducted examining the COVID-19 and ED peer-reviewed literature. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to synthesize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with EDs. METHOD: Database searches of the peer-reviewed literature were completed in the subsequent databases: CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO (from November 2019 to October 20, 2021). All research reporting on the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with EDs were included. RESULTS: Fifty-three studies met the inclusion criteria, including 36,485 individuals with EDs. The pooled hospital admissions across the studies demonstrated on average a 48% (pre = 591, post = 876, n = 10 studies) increase in admissions during the pandemic compared to previous pre-pandemic timepoints. In this review, 36% of studies (n = 19) documented increases in eating disorder symptoms during the pandemic, this increase in eating disorder symptoms were documented in AN, BED, BN, and OFSED patients. Studies also demonstrated increases in anxiety (n = 9) and depression (n = 8), however patterns of change appeared to be diagnostic and timing specific (e.g., lockdowns). DISCUSSION: We found a large increase in the number of hospitalizations and an increase in ED symptoms, anxiety, depression, and changes to BMI in ED patients during the pandemic. However, these changes appeared to be diagnostic and timing specific. Many qualitative studies described deterioration in ED symptomatology due to decreased access to care and treatment, changes to routine and loss of structure, negative influence of the media, and social isolation. Future studies are needed to focus on pediatric populations, new ED diagnoses, and severity of illness at presentation. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: The scientific literature suggests that individuals with eating disorders have experienced deteriorating symptoms, increased isolation, and an increase in hospital admissions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study synthesized 53 articles and explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with eating disorders. We found increases in eating disorder symptoms during the pandemic; this increase in eating disorder symptoms was documented in patients with common eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and other specified feeding and eating disorders. This review also demonstrated changes in body mass index (an index used to classify underweight, overweight, and obesity in adults) and increases in anxiety and depression during the pandemic compared to previous timepoints; patterns of change appeared to be related to timing of lockdowns. This review provides important information on the impact of COVID-19 on the physical and mental health of individuals with eating disorders.

OBJETIVO: Un creciente conjunto de evidencia sugiere que las personas con trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (TCA) han experimentado síntomas de deterioro, mayor aislamiento y un aumento en los ingresos hospitalarios como resultado de la pandemia de COVID-19. A pesar de esto, no se han realizado revisiones sistemáticas que examinen la literatura revisada por pares de COVID-19 y TCA. Por lo tanto, esta revisión sistemática tuvo como objetivo sintetizar el impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 en las personas con TCA. MÉTODO: Las búsquedas en las bases de datos de la literatura revisada por pares se completaron en las bases de datos posteriores: CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE y PsycINFO (de noviembre de 2019 al 20 de octubre de 2021). Se incluyeron todos los informes de investigación sobre la relación entre la pandemia de COVID-19 en individuos con TCA. RESULTADOS: Cincuenta y tres estudios cumplieron los criterios de inclusión, incluyendo 36,485 individuos con TCA. Los ingresos hospitalarios agrupados en los estudios demostraron en promedio un aumento del 48% (antes = 591, después = 876, n = 10 estudios) en los ingresos durante la pandemia en comparación con los puntos de tiempo previos a la pandemia. En esta revisión, el 36% de los estudios (n = 19) documentaron aumentos en los síntomas del trastorno alimentario durante la pandemia, este aumento en los síntomas del trastorno de la conducta alimentaria se documentó en pacientes con AN, TpA, BN y OSFED. Los estudios también demostraron aumentos en la ansiedad (n = 9) y la depresión (n = 8), sin embargo, los patrones de cambio parecían ser diagnósticos y específicos del momento (por ejemplo, encierros). DISCUSIÓN: Encontramos un gran aumento en el número de hospitalizaciones y un aumento en los síntomas de TCA, ansiedad, depresión y los cambios en el IMC en pacientes con TCA durante la pandemia. Sin embargo, estos cambios parecían ser diagnósticos y específicos del momento. Muchos estudios cualitativos describieron un deterioro en la sintomatología del trastorno de la conducta alimentaria (TCA) debido a la disminución del acceso a la atención y el tratamiento, los cambios en la rutina y la pérdida de estructura, la influencia negativa de los medios de comunicación y el aislamiento social. Se necesitan estudios futuros para centrarse en las poblaciones pediátricas, los nuevos diagnósticos de TCA y la gravedad de la enfermedad al momento de la presentación. PALABRAS CLAVE: trastornos de la conducta alimentaria, pandemia, COVID-19.

One year in: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on help-seeking behaviors among youth experiencing eating disorders and their caregivers.

We analyzed service utilization data from the National Eating Disorder Information Centre's (NEDIC) toll-free helpline/chat to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on help-seeking behaviors among youth with disordered eating and their caregivers. The number of contacts from affected youth (n = 650) and caregivers (n = 823) was significantly higher in the pandemic year than 2018 and 2019. The proportion of affected youth reporting dieting/restriction, perfectionism, and weight pre-occupation was significantly higher during the pandemic than in 2018 and 2019. Our findings lend support to accounts from expert clinicians reporting an increase in youth presenting with eating disordered symptoms during the pandemic.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on help-seeking behaviors in individuals suffering from eating disorders and their caregivers.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on help-seeking behaviors among individuals with eating disorders and caregivers. METHODS: We analyzed service utilization data from the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC). We compared the number of contacts and symptom frequency between the pandemic period and previous years. RESULTS: NEDIC was contacted 609 times during March 1-April 30, 2020 (72.1% individuals affected by disordered eating, 20.4% caregivers). The number of total contacts significantly increased from 2018 to 2019 and 2018 to 2020 (X2(3) = 50.34, p < .001). Among affected individuals (80.4% women), the number of contacts during the pandemic period was significantly higher (n = 439; X2(2) = 92.74, p < .001) compared to 2018 (n = 197) and 2019 (n = 312). There were higher rates of eating disorder symptoms, anxiety, and depression in 2020 compared to previous years. Thematic analysis of instant chats from the pandemic year revealed four emerging themes: 1) lack of access to treatment, 2) worsening of symptoms, 3) feeling out of control, and 4) need for support. CONCLUSION: These findings point toward the impact of COVID-19 in individuals affected by disordered eating and hold implications for service delivery during times of crises.

A call to action to address COVID-19-induced global food insecurity to prevent hunger, malnutrition, and eating pathology.

The coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to food shortages, increased food prices, and loss of income. As a result, global food insecurity alerts have been issued. The pandemic threatens millions of children and adolescents and their families currently living with or at risk for development of food insecurity. The lack of consistent access to nutritious food sources is associated with chronic physical and mental health problems and death. Studies on food insecurity and eating pathology have heightened our concern about the impact the added effect of the pandemic may have on eating behaviors of children and adolescents. Here, we want to draw attention to the need for making food security and healthy eating attitudes and behaviors a global priority during the COVID-19 pandemic to guarantee the current and future health and well-being of our children and adolescents.