TORONTO – Disordered eating behaviors are common in teens seeking obesity treatment and were associated with higher body mass index z scores at 6 months of follow-up, a new study shows.
This finding suggests that disordered eating behavior might be a barrier to successful obesity treatment, compelling weight management clinics to both screen for disordered eating at intake and to apply targeted therapies because standard treatments are unlikely to be effective for these adolescents.
This is the first study to consider the impact that disordered eating might have on adolescent obesity treatment, said Dr. Carolyn B. Jasik, a clinical research fellow in adolescent medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, who presented her results at the meeting.
Dr. Jasik and her colleagues conducted a chart review of 116 adolescents aged 12-18 years who presented for weight management. At intake, patients completed a screen for eight disordered eating behaviors in the last month: binge eating without loss of control, eating alone, hiding food, night eating, lying about intake, loss of control, binge eating with loss of control, and guilt or depression about food intake.
Sixty-three percent of study participants reported at least one disordered eating behavior at baseline. “I would entirely change the way we approach obesity management,” she said.
Disclosures: Dr. Jasik reported no financial conflicts of interest.