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Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective Muscle dysmorphia is a relatively recently identified psychological condition that, since its inception, has been variously conceptualized as an eating disorder and subsequently as a type of body dysmorphic disorder within the somatoform disorders. This review aims to inform and encourage ongoing debate surrounding the diagnostic placement of this disorder. Method We present a review and synthesis of the extant literature with a view to informing future decisions regarding the conceptualization of muscle dysmorphia. Results The validity of muscle dysmorphia as a clinical entity has been empirically demonstrated. While the condition bears little semblance to somatization as currently conceptualized, the research suggests a strong conceptual similarity with anorexia nervosa. However, future research needs to utilize more appropriate measures of male eating disorder pathology. Muscle dysmorphia is also inclusive of obsessive compulsive features that are typical to those seen in eating disorder presentations. Discussion We suggest that muscle dysmorphia be reanalyzed through the lens of an eating disorder spectrum. Recognition of muscle dysmorphia as an eating disorder may offer more clinical utility in recognizing the male experience of eating disorder pathology and also help reduce the number of current male cases falling into the EDNOS category. © 2010 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2010; 43:483-491 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the family influences in developing the mental and behavioral disorders anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN). It says that family influences are not seen as the primary cause of the disorders, however, there is no consistent structure or pattern of functioning in families with a member who suffers from an eating disorder; rather, eating disorders evolve a multiplicity of family contexts.

In this article the authors discuss their position regarding eating disorders which include anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. It is the opinion of the authors in accordance with the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) that anorexia and bulimia are biologically based mental illnesses (BBMIs) and should be treated with the same degree of health care as other forms of serious mental illnesses (SMIs).

The author comments on articles by Stice and Becker, Hay, and Mitchell and colleagues which discuss the treatment and prevention of eating disorders. He mentions that from the articles it can be deduced that there is a need to improve the efficacy of prevention and treatment strategies and better understanding of personalized medicine is needed. He states that the articles highlight development of effective prevention strategies and enhanced trans-diagnostic cognitive behavioral interventions.

Objective: While co‐occurring mental health conditions are the norm in eating disorders, no testable protocol addresses management of these in psychotherapy. Method: The literature on managing mental health conditions that co‐occur with eating disorders is outlined and reviewed. Results: In the absence of clear evidence to inform managing co‐occurring mental health conditions, we advocate for use of an iterative, session‐by‐session measurement to guide practice and research. We identify three data‐driven treatment approaches (focus solely on the eating disorder; multiple sequential interventions either before or after the eating disorder is addressed; integrated interventions), and the indications for their use. Where a co‐occurring mental health condition/s impede effective treatment of the eating disorder, and an integrated intervention is required, we outline a four‐step protocol for three broad intervention approaches (alternate, modular, transdiagnostic). A research program is suggested to test the usefulness of the protocol. Discussion: Guidelines that provide a starting point to improving outcomes for people with eating disorders that can be evaluated/researched are offered in the current paper. These guidelines require further elaboration with reference to: (1) whether any difference in approach is required where the co‐occurring mental health condition is a comorbid symptom or condition; (2) the place of biological treatments within these guidelines; (3) precise guidelines for selecting among the three broad intervention approaches when adapting care for co‐occurring conditions; (4) optimal approaches to involving consumer input into identifying the most relevant co‐occurring conditions; (5) detailed specification on how to determine which adjuncts to add. Public significance: Most people with an eating disorder also have another diagnosis or an underlying trait (e.g., perfectionism). Currently no clear guidelines exist to guide treatment in this situation, which often results in a drift away from evidence‐based techniques. This paper outlines data‐driven strategies for treating eating disorders and the accompanying comorbid conditions and a research program that can test the usefulness of the different approaches suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to A. T. Faje et al's paper that reports important and overdue data on fractures rates related with anorexia nervosa (AN) in a paediatric age group.

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: We are very pleased to introduce a special issue of the International Journal of Eating Disorders on child and adolescent feeding and eating disorders and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Method: Contributions focused on five main themes: (1) the definition and assessment of ARFID; (2) the clinical phenomenology of ARFID; (3) similarities and differences between ARFID and anorexia nervosa (AN); (4) novel treatments for ARFID; and (5) new ideas for improving treatment outcomes in AN. Results: These papers highlight the importance of clear operationalization and measurement of the ARFID diagnostic criteria. ARFID phenotypes bear both similarities and important differences in clinical profile, course, and outcome from AN. Findings suggest the utility of adapting existing treatments for restrictive eating disorders to apply to ARFID and engender clinical creativity to move beyond existing treatments and develop novel interventions that address the heterogeneity of ARFID. Furthermore, burgeoning understanding of ARFID offers the potential that novel treatments for ARFID may also be applied to improve outcomes for AN. Discussion: This collection of papers features child and adolescent feeding and eating disorder patient groups that have been understudied and we hope that this catalyzes clinical research in these important presentations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recent public awareness of racial and ethnic disparities has again brought to light issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the eating disorders field. However, empirical information on racial and ethnic representation in eating disorders research is limited, making it difficult to understand where improvements are needed. Method: This study reviewed all studies including human participants published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders in 2000, 2010, and 2020. Differences in likelihood of reporting race and ethnicity were calculated based on study year, location, and diagnostic categories. Results: Out of 377 manuscripts, 45.2% reported information on the race and ethnicity of study participants. Studies conducted in the United States were more likely to report (128/173), and those conducted in Europe were less likely to report (5/61) on race and ethnicity than those conducted outside of those regions. Rates of reporting increased from 2000 to 2020. White participants made up approximately 70% of the samples that reported race and ethnicity data. Hispanic participants made up approximately 10% of samples reporting race and ethnicity. Participants from all other races and ethnicities made up less than 5% each. Discussion: Although rates of reporting race and ethnicity increased over time, most participants were White. Rates of reporting also differed by the geographical region, which may reflect variability in how information on race and ethnicity is collected across countries. More attention toward capturing the cultural background of research participants and more inclusivity in research are needed in the eating disorders field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is defined by limited volume or variety of food intake motivated by the sensory properties of food, fear of aversive consequences, or lack of interest in food or eating associated with medical, nutritional, and psychosocial impairment. Currently, two of the most widely validated measures are The Eating Disturbances in Youth‐Questionnaire (EDY‐Q) and the Nine Item ARFID Screen (NIAS). The latter has proven valid and reliable for assessing this disorder. Objective: To validate a culturally sensitive adaptation of the NIAS instrument and evaluate its psychometric properties in Mexican youths. Method: The sample consisted of 800 participants aged 12—30 (M = 18.56, SD = 3.52) from Mexico City and Hidalgo public educational institutions. Results: The S‐NIAS obtained a Cronbach's alpha of 0.84, adequate construct validity adjustment rates: CMIN = 1.88; GFI = 0.97; AGFI = 0.94; CFI = 0.98; RMR = 0.050; and RMSEA = 0.047. Measurement invariance by gender, age, and survey administration which show that construct is understood in the same way across both groups and despite the change from paper‐and‐pencil to online survey administration. Conclusion: The psychometric properties of the Spanish Nine Item ARFID Screen (S‐NIAS) indicate that it is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating symptoms associated with ARFID in this sample of youths. Public Significance: Although there are advances in studying ARFID, their epidemiological data comes mainly from a few countries. Furthermore, these data are scarcer due to the lack of validated screening and assessment instruments available in a variety of world languages; having instruments for the evaluation of ARFID symptoms is essential because it could function as an auxiliary means for the detection and prevention of people at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper highlights the gap in understanding and meeting the needs of individuals with eating disorders (EDs) who are engaged in manual labor and proposes a novel solution for meeting those needs. Methods: In this paper, we describe the rationale, considerations, and opportunities for research and practice that can be adapted and created to meet the needs of individuals with EDs who are engaged in manual labor, a group that may be underserved by current methods for treating EDs. We highlight the potential utility of the industrial athlete (IA) framework for this population, propose the term Relative Energy Deficit in Occupation ("RED‐O"), and describe the potential applications of this framework and term for research, treatment, and public health promotion for EDs among individuals engaged in manual labor. Results: The IA framework and RED‐O provide opportunities to address the unique needs of individuals with EDs who are also engaged in manual labor and who are disproportionately of low socioeconomic status through new and adapted research and clinical applications as well as advocacy and public health promotion. Discussion: Equitable recovery for people with EDs requires the ability to engage in activities necessary for occupational functioning, including the physical capacity necessary to participate fully in their work. As access to treatment increases, it is imperative that the needs of IAs are adequately addressed, especially those who are of lower socioeconomic status. Public Significance: The industrial athlete and relative energy deficit in occupation (RED‐O) frameworks will enhance opportunities for identification and treatment of underserved and disadvantaged populations with eating disorders and reduce public health burden of eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Reward‐related processes have been posited as key mechanisms underlying the onset and persistence of eating disorders, prompting a growing body of research in this area. Existing studies have primarily utilized self‐report, behavioral, and functional magnetic resonance imaging measures to interrogate reward among individuals with eating disorders. However, limitations inherent in each of these methods (e.g., poor temporal resolution) may obscure distinct neurocognitive reward processes, potentially contributing to underdeveloped models of reward dysfunction within eating disorders. The temporal precision of event‐related potentials (ERPs), derived from electroencephalography, may thus offer a powerful complementary tool for elucidating the neurocognitive underpinnings of reward. Indeed, a considerable amount of research in other domains of psychopathology (e.g., depression, substance use disorders), as well as studies investigating food reward among non‐clinical samples, highlights the utility of ERPs for probing reward processes. However, no study to date has utilized ERPs to directly examine reward functioning in eating disorders. Methods: In this paper, we review evidence underscoring the clinical utility of ERP measures of reward, as well as a variety of reward‐related tasks that can be used to elicit specific ERP components with demonstrated relevance to reward processing. We then consider the ways in which these tasks/components may be used to help answer a variety of open questions within the eating disorders literature on reward. Results/Discussion: Given the promise of ERP measures of reward to the field of eating disorders, we ultimately hope to spur and guide research in this currently neglected area. Public Significance: Abnormalities in reward functioning appear to contribute to eating disorders. Event‐related potentials (ERPs) offer temporally precise measures of neurocognitive reward processing and thus may be important tools for understanding the relationship between reward and disordered eating. However, research in this area is currently lacking. This paper attempts to facilitate the use of ERPs to study reward among individuals with eating disorders by reviewing the relevant theories and methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In their paper on "Realizing the Untapped Promise of Single‐Session Interventions for Eating Disorders" Schleider and colleagues suggest an innovative approach to addressing a much‐ discussed critical issue in the treatment of eating disorders—how we help more people quickly and with greater efficiency. While building on the feasibility and success of program‐led approaches, they make a potentially transformative proposal for the use of single‐session, "one‐at‐a‐time" interventions freely accessible to those in need. We suggest that not only does this proposal have the potential to narrow the treatment gap, but its ability to generate informative data at scale may also contribute to improving treatment outcomes overall. We also note the need for further independent support for the claim that single sessions produce meaningful benefit especially in the field of the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. While Schleider and colleagues' proposal is potentially transformative and has heuristic value, some caution needs to be exercised. In our view, single‐session interventions should not be regarded as displacing existing treatment provision. Rather they should be seen as complementary and a potential way of improving provision overall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schleider and colleagues' paper on the application of single‐session interventions (SSIs) to eating disorders is timely given the broader focus in mental health on flexible approaches to delivering support at the time the person needs it most. The eating disorder field needs to embrace these innovations including developing a "single‐session mindset" with greater attention paid to testing the relevance of SSI for eating disorders. The use of well‐powered trials of brief, focused and rapidly scalable interventions is an ideal vehicle for generation and evaluation of new and longer interventions. Our future research agenda needs to carefully consider our target audience, the primary outcome variable of most relevance, and the SSI topic that would be most likely to effect change. Research in prevention might focus on weight concern and evaluation of SSIs that focus on self‐compassion or cognitive dissonance related to appearance ideals in the media. Work in early intervention could target denial and disordered eating using SSIs on growth mindset, behavioral activation, and imagery rescripting. Treatment waitlists provide another suitable opportunity, evaluating SSIs that aim to increase hope for change, treatment retention, and kick start early change in therapy, a robust predictor of better treatment outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial reports on an anonymous survey question posed to eating disorders researchers about changes the International Journal of Eating Disorders (IJED) should implement to support the eating disorders research community affected by COVID‐19. The editorial accompanies an IJED article that details responses to the larger survey focusing more broadly on COVID‐19‐related research disruptions. Survey invitations were sent to editorial board members of eating disorders journals, members of eating disorder scientific organizations (e.g., Eating Disorders Research Society), and individuals who provided at least three IJED reviews in the prior 12 months. We reviewed the responses of 187 participants and identified three categories of changes that: (a) had already been implemented by the journal, (b) cannot be implemented because they fall outside the scope of IJED, or (c) will be implemented in coming weeks or months. The latter category includes publishing topical COVID‐19 papers, making some COVID‐19‐related content available open access, revising statistical guidelines, and issuing author guidance on reporting protocol changes caused by COVID‐19‐related disruptions. IJED recognizes the disruptive impacts that COVID‐19 has on all activities in our field, including clinical work, teaching, and advocacy, and is committed to supporting authors during this difficult time while striving to publish high‐quality research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective Methods Results Discussion Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is an evidence‐based treatment for disorders characterized by recurrent binge eating. Yet, access to specialized treatment like DBT remains limited. To increase the accessibility of DBT, we developed a DBT skills training app (Resilience: eDBT) for the management of eating disorder (ED) symptoms. This paper delineates the developmental process of Resilience and tests its usability.Descriptive information on the development and features of Resilience is provided, including its framework, content structure and delivery formats, functionality, data storage procedure, and privacy protocols. Usability was assessed via a mixed methods approach in 10 symptomatic individuals. Qualitative data were organized based on an existing framework, which included six themes: usability, visual design, user engagement, content, therapeutic persuasiveness, and therapeutic alliance.Resilience demonstrated good usability via a Systems Usability Scale score of 85.5, which exceeded the recommended cutoff of 68. Positive aspects of the app, according to interview data, were the ease of use and the visual design, while the addition of peer support was suggested as an opportunity for improvement.A novel DBT‐based app may serve as an acceptable, low‐intensity option or adjunct to traditional treatment for targeting ED symptoms that emerge in daily life. However, notable limitations include the small sample size and the single time point at which the usability assessment was conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This commentary discusses a principal contribution of Monocello et al.'s paper presenting a cultural models approach to body fatness perceptions, which provides a rigorous and systematic means of identifying analytic categories that are locally meaningful, in contrast to categories derived from a solely universalizing perspective. In situating their work within an underrepresented population in eating disorders research—young men in South Korea—the authors step beyond the constraints of a universalizing, or etic, framework for probing how body dissatisfaction relates to eating disorder risk. The value of an alternative analytic framework, based on a culturally local, or emic, perspective on how bodies are perceived is demonstrated through the use of a cultural models approach exploring the relationship between culturally defined conceptualizations of body image and eating disorder risk. Understanding such relationships and the meanings attributed to the myriad aspects of body image through locally grounded frameworks provides an essential tool for investigators and clinicians to better understand the lived experience of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, and also to inform more culturally salient approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. An emic approach that centers local perspectives and priorities also facilitates participation of communities underrepresented in research in knowledge production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public Significance Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a heterogeneous disorder wherein restrictive eating is primarily attributed to non‐shape/weight‐based reasons (e.g., sensory sensitivity) that empirical research continues to explore. Mounting evidence suggests that ARFID often presents alongside neurodevelopmental diagnoses (NDs) or divergent neurodevelopment broadly. Executive functioning (EF) differences often characterize divergent neurodevelopmental trajectories. Additionally, restrictive eating in anorexia nervosa has been conceptualized as related to EF factors (e.g., set shifting). Given the neurodevelopmental phenotype that may be associated with ARFID and the role of EF in anorexia nervosa, this paper proposes EF as a potentially important, yet understudied factor in ARFID pathology. We posit that various observed ARFID behavioral/cognitive tendencies can be conceptualized in relation to EF differences. We contextualize commonly observed ARFID presentations within “core” EF components (i.e., cognitive flexibility, working memory, inhibitory control), leading to hypotheses about EF in ARFID. Finally, we offer additional considerations/directions for future research on EF in ARFID. Increased research on EF in ARFID is needed to consider this potential common factor in the etiology and maintenance of this heterogeneous disorder. We aim to promote further consideration of EF in ARFID etiology, maintenance, and treatment‐outcome research.This article proposes that aspects of executive functioning (EF) may play a role in the onset and maintenance of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), although this notion is largely untested by existing research. Further research on the role of EF in ARFID may assist with refining models and treatments for this heterogeneous disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earlier pubertal onset has been associated with increased disordered eating symptoms in cisgender girls. Although this finding has been replicated across studies of disordered eating, most studies have focused on white samples. The lack of studies is surprising given that early pubertal timing may impact disordered eating risk in Black and Latinx girls differently due to trends of earlier pubertal onset in these groups and increased stressors related to interpersonal and structural racism and economic marginalization. Current methods of examining pubertal timing among Black and Latinx girls may also not fully capture their experience. Contextual factors (e.g., neighborhood and school racial/ethnic composition) may influence how minoritized girls both perceive and are affected by their pubertal timing. Moreover, factors such as ethnic–racial identity development and experiences of discrimination may be important mechanisms explaining the association between pubertal timing and disordered eating risk. This paper aims to provide a brief overview of studies examining pubertal timing and disordered eating risk among Black and Latinx girls in the US and to discuss recommendations for future research that integrate contextual factors in the examination of pubertal timing and its effects. Public significance: Early pubertal timing has been associated with increased risk of disordered eating symptoms among cisgender girls; however, studies have been limited due to the use of predominantly white samples. The article provides a brief overview of findings related to pubertal timing effects among Black and Latinx girls, discusses considerations for the measurement of pubertal timing, and highlights the need for inclusion of contextual factors in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To review the recent literature on the proposed entity of "terminal anorexia nervosa." Method: Review of recent literature on the concept of "terminal AN" as well as past and supporting work. Results: The cases and proposed definitions are reviewed, as is the growing literature on this topic. Problems exist with predicting outcomes and thus, determining futility, as well as about capacity for decision‐making. Discussion: To make decisions about treatment futility, the existing database for predicting AN course and treatment response must expand greatly. In addition, while decisional capacity is central to the debate, its determination may be unusually complex in this situation. The gaps identified point to extensive needs for future research, but they also indicate that the concept of "terminal AN" cannot be defined at present and should not be used. Public Significance: Anorexia nervosa is challenging to treat, and it often lasts for years. There is debate about whether palliative care or medical aid in dying should be considered. Identifying who has a terminal case of AN is important for this question, but we have limited ability to predict a given individual's outcome at present, and there are concerns about the ability of those with AN to make treatment decisions. This means the concept of "terminal AN" should not currently be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change affects many of the documented risk factors for eating disorders (EDs) through direct and indirect pathways, yet to date the research in this area is nonexistent. Our aim is to identify the specific mechanisms through which climate change might be associated with increased risk for EDs, an exacerbation in symptoms, or poor clinical outcomes; highlight limited empirical data addressing these issues; and propose directions for a research program in this important area. Pathways for the impact of climate change on eating disorders and related data were reviewed. Four main pathways for the effects of climate change on EDs were identified including (1) decreased food access and security; (2) changes in mean temperature; (3) concerns related to food safety and eco‐anxiety; and (4) indirect pathways through trauma, adversity, and increased mental health concerns. Except for the relationship between increased food insecurity and EDs, these pathways remain largely uninvestigated. Numerous factors may be implicated in the relationship between climate change and EDs. Future work in this area is imperative and should be conducted through a social justice lens with particular attention paid to the global areas most impacted by climate change and related vulnerabilities. Climate change will likely have adverse impacts on individuals with eating disorders and increase the risk for eating disorders. This paper reviews the different ways in which climate change may have these effects and calls for researchers to pay attention to this important area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Adolescence is a vulnerable period for the development of eating disorders, but there are disparities in eating disorder risk among adolescents. One population that may be at increased risk but is vastly understudied, is adolescents residing in rural regions within the United States. Rural communities face many mental and physical health disparities; however, the literature on rural adolescent eating disorder risk is nearly nonexistent. In this paper we summarize the scant literature on disordered eating and eating disorder risk and prevalence among rural US adolescents. We also detail eating disorder risk factors that may have unique influence in this population, including socioeconomic status, food insecurity, healthcare access, body image, and weight stigma. Given the presence of numerous eating disorder risk factors, we speculate that rural adolescents may be a particularly vulnerable population for eating disorders and we propose critical next steps in research for understanding eating disorder risk among the understudied population of rural adolescents. Public Significance: Rural adolescents may be at increased risk for eating disorders due to disproportionate burden of known risk factors, though this relationship remains understudied. We present a summary of the literature on prevalence and unique risk factors, proposing that this may be a high‐risk population. We detail next steps for research to understand eating disorder risk in this population to inform future prevention, identification, and treatment efforts needed in this community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The etiology of anorexia nervosa (AN) remains to be fully elucidated, and current theories also fail to account for the direct effect of starvation on the health of the organs and tissues, specifically the connective tissue present in most organs of the body. Individuals with hereditary disorders of connective tissue manifest with clinical symptoms that overlap with AN, as the abnormal connective tissue also contributes to many of the other extra‐articular manifestations of these hereditary disorders. This article hypothesizes that a similar pathophysiology may also contribute to the clinical presentation of AN. Therefore, a better understanding is needed to elucidate: (1) the relationship between abnormal connective tissue and AN, (2) the impact of starvation toward the development of abnormal connective tissue and how this manifests clinically, (3) the etiology of autonomic nervous system changes contributing to the dysautonomia in AN, and (4) how the sensory signals sent from potentially abnormal connective tissue to the central nervous system impact interoception in AN. A conceptual model incorporating abnormal connective tissue is provided. Public Significance: The etiology of AN remains poorly understood and current theories fail to account for the direct impact of starvation on the health of the organs and tissues of the body. There is significant clinical overlap between AN and hereditary connective tissue disorders. This paper attempts to provide a new conceptual model for AN in which abnormal connective tissue contributes to the underlying pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To push research and treatment in the field of eating disorders (EDs) forward, we need to not only systematically develop our current knowledge and skills through established procedures for research and clinical practice, but also make room for disruptive innovations and thinking out of the box. The paper by Schleider et al. (2023, International Journal of Eating Disorders) provides a thoughtful invitation to think differently by considering single‐session interventions (SSI) for prevention and treatment of EDs. Beyond expanding our intervention tools, SSI may force us to think more mechanistically about the processes of change, and about the format and delivery of our interventions, both for EDs and from a transdiagnostic perspective. In this commentary, we reflect on the possible benefits and implications of SSI, and the necessity of mechanistically driven and rigorous empirical research for developing efficacious SSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The explosion of new methods in science has put additional pressure on authors, readers, and peer reviewers to evaluate the rigor and reproducibility of these new approaches. This issue brings together a collection of articles aimed to stimulate our thinking about how to evaluate the quality of these new methodologies, in the form of several expert reviews on domains ranging from large scale genetics to clinical interventions. These expert reviews are followed by a collection of papers intended to illustrate new or underrepresented methods in our field and include novel approaches to clinical trials to the quantification of text data collected from public repositories online. The issue concludes with a number of original data papers applying network analysis to study comorbidity and symptom status in eating disorder and related populations and a couple of novel neuroimaging papers demonstrating the use of new and promising methods for studying heterogeneity and the use of psychophysiology to answer questions about emotion in eating disorder populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Gender and sexual identity constitute social categories that have been found to be important when identifying persons at risk for eating disorders (ED), since prevalence rates are especially high for women as well as persons of gender and sexual minorities. The objective of this study is to enhance the understanding of how these social categories relate to ED development. Method: A qualitative, inductive approach was used in order to develop empirically grounded hypotheses about gendered aspects in ED development. Data are 14 narrative interviews with persons of diverse sexual and gender identities who recovered from anorexia or bulimia nervosa. Interviews were analyzed in depth using Grounded Theory Methodology and Voice Centered Listening. Results: Results suggest that social experiences related to female gender, as well as social experiences related to non‐compliance with social gender norms, can be important for ED development. Those social experiences were described as influencing participants' self‐worth, body image and self‐regulatory strategies, which were connected to ED symptomatology. Discussion: Future research should further validate the gendered aspects presented in this paper, since including a broader array of gendered social aspects in ED research might help to improve etiological understanding and prevention methods. Public Significance Statement: This study contributes a special perspective to research on eating disorders and gender, because it is based on first‐person perspectives of formerly affected persons and integrates the experiences of persons with different gender and sexual identities. Participants described four categories of gendered social experiences relevant for their eating disorders. We discuss the potential of these categories to guide future research on the development of eating disorders and their prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This commentary discusses the systematic review by Walsh et al. that has found that people with atypical anorexia nervosa have similar symptoms and severity as have people with anorexia nervosa. In this paper, the discussion is broadened to other eating disorders diagnoses and the problem of overlap and crossover between syndromes that impacts adversely on the need for diagnoses to be distinct both at assessment but also over time. It is argued that the derivation of eating disorder diagnostic criteria has also been vulnerable to erroneous assumptions and biased observations. Whether atypical anorexia nervosa becomes a standalone diagnosis or is joined with an expanded anorexia nervosa, future delineations should be based on empirical research including neuroscience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eating disorders hold a unique place among mental health disorders, in that salient symptoms can be objectively observed and measured rather than determined only from patient interviews or subjective evaluations. Because of this measurement advantage alone, evidence-based medicine would be expected there to make the most rapid strides. However, conclusions in Eating Disorders research, as in all medical research literature, often continue to be misleading or ambiguous. One major and long-known source of such problems is the misuse and misinterpretation of 'statistical significance', with ' p values' strewn throughout research papers like so much confetti, a problem that has become systemic, that is, enforced, rather than corrected, by the peer-review system. This discussion attempts to clarify the issues, and to suggest how readers might deal with this issue in processing the research literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Promoting representation of historically marginalized racial and ethnic populations in the eating disorders (EDs) field among professionals and the populations studied and served has long been discussed, with limited progress. This may be due to a reinforcing feedback loop in which individuals from dominant cultures conduct research and deliver treatment, participate in research, and receive diagnoses and treatment. This insularity maintains underrepresentation: EDs in historically marginalized populations are understudied, undetected, and undertreated. An Early Career Investigators Workshop generated recommendations for change that were not inherently novel but made apparent that accountability is missing. This paper serves as a call to action to spearhead a paradigm shift from equality to equity in the ED field. We provide a theoretical framework, suggest ways to disrupt the feedback loop, and summarize actionable steps to increase accountability in ED leadership and research toward enhancing racial/ethnic justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). These actionable steps are outlined in the service of challenging our field to reflect the diversity of our global community. We must develop and implement measurable metrics to assess our progress toward increasing diversity of underrepresented racial/ethnic groups and to address JEDI issues in our providers, patients, and research participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This Virtual Issue of the International Journal of Eating Disorders (IJED) is released to mark the XXIVth Eating Disorder Research Society (EDRS) meeting in Sydney, Australia. This is the second EDRS meeting in Australia, reflecting the strong contribution of Australian researchers to eating disorder research internationally. Attendees at the Sydney EDRS meeting will be able to access the top 10 cited papers from IJED by Australian authors in 2016–2017, cited an average of 10.2 times each. It is pleasing to note the strong representation of early career researchers and the range of topics addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Emotional eating has been linked to ovarian hormone functioning, but no studies to‐date have considered the role of brain function. This knowledge gap may stem from methodological challenges: Data are heterogeneous, violating assumptions of homogeneity made by between‐subjects analyses. The primary aim of this paper is to describe an innovative within‐subjects analysis that models heterogeneity and has potential for filling knowledge gaps in eating disorder research. We illustrate its utility in an application to pilot neuroimaging, hormone, and emotional eating data across the menstrual cycle. Method: Group iterative multiple model estimation (GIMME) is a person‐specific network approach for estimating sample‐, subgroup‐, and individual‐level connections between brain regions. To illustrate its potential for eating disorder research, we apply it to pilot data from 10 female twins (N = 5 pairs) discordant for emotional eating and/or anxiety, who provided two resting state fMRI scans and hormone assays. We then demonstrate how the multimodal data can be linked in multilevel models. Results: GIMME generated person‐specific neural networks that contained connections common across the sample, shared between co‐twins, and unique to individuals. Illustrative analyses revealed positive relations between hormones and default mode connectivity strength for control twins, but no relations for their co‐twins who engage in emotional eating or who had anxiety. Discussion: This paper showcases the value of person‐specific neuroimaging network analysis and its multimodal associations in the study of heterogeneous biopsychosocial phenomena, such as eating behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Policy and legislation have emerged as important levers for universal prevention efforts in the context of eating disorders. However, to date, little attention has been paid to generating research that will inform opportunities to regulate the food environment, specifically the way that food is produced and marketed. The present paper aims to lay out a framework for research that will examine (1) the ways in which food industry may influence risk for eating disorders and (2) the impact of legislative efforts on eating disorder cognitions and behaviors. For these two pathways, specific examples of research that would serve to inform policy efforts aiming to decrease the risk for eating disorders by targeting the food environment are proposed. Overall, the present paper aims to issue a call for the eating disorder field to become involved in food policy and regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The dissemination and uptake of scientific findings is of critical importance. While broader research suggests that an article's Altmetric score may predict subsequent citation scores for scientific manuscripts, the potential relationship between online dissemination and the broader scientific uptake of findings has not been explored in eating disorder research. Method: We identified 310 manuscripts published between 2017 and 2018 in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, and assessed (a) Altmetric scores, (b) the composition of Altmetric scores (i.e., Facebook posts, Twitter posts), and (c) overall citation scores. Results: Higher Altmetric scores were associated with higher citation scores. Multivariate analysis of separate Altmetric components indicated a higher number of Facebook mentions was uniquely associated with higher citation scores. Discussion Altmetric scores may offer a viable and relatively rapid metric of the likely uptake and impact of manuscripts. Ultimately, these findings represent preliminary evidence of the benefits of widespread dissemination of eating disorder research beyond traditional academic methods. Future research should focus on expanding our preliminary findings to include a larger examination of articles to show evidence for or against the relationship between higher Altmetric scores and higher citation scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A foreword to the special issue of the April 1, 2023 issue of the "International Journal of Easting Disorders" is presented.

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: Internet‐based psychoeducational and self‐help platforms hold promise for alleviating existing help‐seeking barriers and addressing the unmet needs of people with eating disorders (EDs). In this paper, we report data related to the reach, engagement, and visitor profile of Break Binge Eating, an online platform designed to provide evidence‐based information and self‐help strategies for people at all stages of an ED. Method: Two sources of data were presented: (a) usage data from platform visitors generated through Google Analytics; and (b) characteristics of a sample of platform visitors (n = 786). Results: In 13 months, approximately 46,311 unique users worldwide have accessed this platform, with usage rates rapidly increasing each month. Most visitors came from organic searches (when ED‐related information is directly searched in a browser). Self‐help content was the most accessed material, and 81% of the sample stated that their reason for accessing the platform was to get help. Sample visitors were highly symptomatic; 52% met criteria resembling a threshold ED and 87% engaged in at least one ED behavior in the past month. Across different symptomatic subgroups, ∼50% were unsure whether they needed help, ∼80% were not receiving any help, and ∼75% were highly concerned with their symptoms. Conclusion: This online platform has broad reach and is engaging its intended audience. It is an aim of this platform to improve mental health literacy, facilitate symptom recognition and improvement, and alleviate help‐seeking barriers. Evaluating whether this platform is achieving its intended aims in a randomized controlled trial is the next step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: It is our sincere pleasure to introduce a special issue of the International Journal of Eating Disorders focused on eating disorders and related symptoms in male populations. Method: Contributions focused on three main themes among male populations: (a) the nature of eating disorder symptoms and recovery; (b) long‐term outcomes following eating disorders treatment; and (c) muscularity‐oriented symptoms of eating pathology. Results: The contributions to this special issue highlight the importance of better understanding how eating disorder symptoms manifest, may be maintained, and respond to treatment among male populations. Findings across the articles demonstrate some similarities between male and female samples with respect to core eating disorder symptoms, as well as important differences, particularly with respect to muscularity‐oriented disordered eating. Findings related to treatment outcome also highlight the suboptimal long‐term remission rates and elevated mortality among male inpatients with eating disorders. Discussion: The diverse range of samples, methodologies, and research questions addressed within this collection of papers demonstrates the breadth of the important scientific work on this topic. As eating disorders and related symptoms in male populations continue to be underrecognized and underserved, we hope that this special issue will encourage further high‐quality clinical research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We respond to commentaries on our 2021 paper "Concerns and recommendations for using Amazon MTurk for eating disorder research." The commentators raised many thoughtful and nuanced points regarding data validity and ethical means of online data collection. We echo concerns about the ethics of recruiting via platforms such as MTurk, and highlight tensions between recommendations for ethical data collection and ensuring data integrity. Especially, we highlight the consistent finding that MTurk workers display elevated (often remarkably so) rates of psychopathology, and argue such findings merit further scrutiny to ensure both data are valid and workers not exploited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]