Eating Disorder Symptoms
Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are usually characterized by strict eating patterns, obsession with weight, and digestive complaints.
Last Updated:October 13, 2024
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In this meta-analysis of 36 clinical trials, weight loss interventions reduced eating disorder symptoms.
Quick Summary
In this meta-analysis of 36 clinical trials, weight loss interventions reduced eating disorder symptoms.
The study
Over 3,000 participants (average ages of 38 to 55; 82% women) with overweight or obesity were evaluated. Most of the studies were conducted in North America and Europe.
The median duration of the intervention was 4 months, and the median follow-up period was 10 months. Eating disorder symptoms were measured using validated assessment methods.
In the main analysis, weight-loss interventions reduced eating disorder symptoms, and the effect size was large.
Subgroup analysis indicated that the magnitude of reduction was larger in the participants with a diagnosed eating disorder (most commonly binge eating disorder) at baseline than the participants without an eating disorder. The magnitude of weight loss was not associated with the change in eating disorder symptoms.
The results
This study suggests that weight loss interventions do not promote or exacerbate eating disorder symptoms and can even improve them. However, most of the studies weren’t randomized controlled trials, so further high-quality research in this area is needed.
Additionally, because none of the participants had anorexia nervosa and only a few had bulimia nervosa, the results are not generalizable to these populations.
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What was studied?
The effect of time-restricted eating (TRE) on eating behavior in participants with overweight or obesity and food addiction.
The outcomes assessed were anthropometrics (body weight, fat mass, waist circumference), serum BDNF, perceived stress (assessed using the perceived Stress Questionnaire), eating behavior (assessed using the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire), and food addiction symptoms (assessed using the Yale Food Addiction scale).
How was it studied?
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What were the results?
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The big picture
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What was studied?
The effects of intermittent versus continuous energy restriction on body composition, resting metabolic rate, and eating behaviors.
The eating behavior-related outcomes were dietary restraint, disinhibition (i.e., a perceived lack of control over food intake), hunger, satiety, desire to eat, ease of sticking to the diet, and motivation to diet, all of which were assessed weekly via questionnaires.
How was it studied?
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