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Despite food insecurity (FI) being associated with eating disorders (EDs), little research has examined if ED screening measures perform differently in individuals with FI. This study tested whether items on the SCOFF performed differently as a function of FI. As many people with FI hold multiple marginalized identities, this study also tested if the SCOFF performs differently as a function of food-security status in individuals with different gender identities and different perceived weight statuses. Data were from the 2020/2021 Healthy Minds Study (N = 122,269). Past-year FI was established using the two-item Hunger Vital Sign. Differential item functioning (DIF) assessed whether SCOFF items performed differently (i.e., had different probabilities of endorsement) in groups of individuals with FI versus those without. Both uniform DIF (constant between-group difference in item-endorsement probability across ED pathology) and non-uniform DIF (variable between-group difference in item-endorsement probability across ED pathology) were examined. Several SCOFF items demonstrated both statistically significant uniform and non-uniform DIF (ps

BackgroundRecent research has emphasized a growing trend of weight gain attempts, particularly among adolescents and boys and young men. Little research has investigated these efforts among adults, as well as the specific diet modifications individuals who are trying to gain weight engage in. Therefore, the aims of this study were to characterize the diet modification efforts used by adults across five countries who reported engaging in weight gain attempts and to determine the associations between weight gain attempts and concerted diet modification efforts.MethodsCross-sectional data from the 2018 and 2019 International Food Policy Study, including participants from Australia, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States (N = 42,108), were analyzed. In reference to the past 12 months, participants reported on weight gain attempts and diet modification efforts related to increased consumption of calories, protein, fiber, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, all meats, red meat only, fats, sugar/added sugar, salt/sodium, and processed foods. Unadjusted (chi-square tests) and adjusted (modified Poisson regressions) analyses were conducted to examine associations between weight gain attempts and diet modification efforts.ResultsWeight gain attempts were significantly associated with higher likelihood of each of the 12 forms of diet modification efforts among male participants, and 10 of the diet modification efforts among female participants. Notably, this included higher likelihood of efforts to consume more calories (males: adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 3.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.94-3.59; females: aPR 4.05, 95% CI 3.50-4.70) and fats (males: aPR 2.71, 95% CI 2.42-3.03; females: aPR 3.03, 95% CI 2.58-3.55).ConclusionsOverall, the patterns of association between weight gain attempts and diet modification efforts may be indicative of the phenomenon of muscularity-oriented eating behaviors. Findings further highlight the types of foods and nutrients adults from five countries may try to consume in attempts to gain weight.

Individuals with bulimia nervosa report elevated rates of childhood maltreatment, which appears to increase risk for co-occurring substance use problems and negatively impact clinical course. The current study sought to examine the mechanistic pathways by which specific forms of childhood maltreatment may give rise to substance use problems among individuals with bulimic-spectrum pathology. Women with bulimic-spectrum disorders (N = 204) completed measures of childhood trauma, emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, and substance use. Path analysis was used to examine emotion dysregulation and impulsivity as mediators of the relationship between distinct forms of childhood trauma (physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and sexual abuse) and the presence of problematic alcohol/drug use. In the full path model, significant pathways from childhood emotional abuse to emotion dysregulation, childhood emotional neglect to impulsivity, and emotion dysregulation to problematic substance use emerged. Further, emotion dysregulation significantly mediated the relationship between emotional abuse and substance use. Results indicate that emotion dysregulation may be an important mechanism linking a history of childhood emotional maltreatment to later eating and substance use problems, and therefore may be an important treatment target among individuals with co-occurring eating and substance use concerns.Childhood emotional abuse was related to greater emotion dysregulation.Childhood emotional neglect was related to greater impulsivity.Emotion dysregulation was related to greater problematic substance use.Emotional abuse may impact substance use through emotion dysregulation.Creating emotion dysregulation may improve substance and eating disorder symptoms.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify university-sponsored activities associated with increased odds of menstrual disturbance among female college students. Participants: The sample included 3,277 female-identifying students at 12 colleges and universities participating in the Healthy Bodies Study during the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 academic years. Methods: Crude and adjusted logistic regression models were run to report odds of any menstrual disturbance and amenorrhea (AMN) for participants in sports, dance, and Greek Life. Survey weights were used to account for response bias. Results: In the adjusted models, participation in varsity sport (OR = 1.82, CI 1.37, 2.37), dance (OR = 1.68, CI 1.37, 2.05) and Greek life (OR= 2.12, CI 0.13, 0.18) was significantly associated with increased odds of menstrual disturbance, compared to non-participants. Conclusions: Findings suggest additional need for prevention and intervention programming against menstrual disturbance in varsity sports, dance, and Greek life activities.

Objective: The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide posits that suicidal behavior results from thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and capability for suicide. Considering that food insecurity (FI) may be linked to these constructs to differing extents based on severity of FI, this study examined cross-sectional associations between levels of FI and suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts in a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States. Methods: Data for this study were collected in 2001–2003 from 5,552 participants in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (Mage=44.8 ± 0.5 years; 53.8% female). Prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were generated using modified Poisson regression to examine past-year ideation, plans, and attempts with intent of lethality by past-year FI level (assessed with a modified version of the Short Form U.S. Household Food Security Scale). Results: After controlling for sociodemographic covariates, low food security was significantly associated with elevated prevalence of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts (ideation: PR = 2.21, 95% CI 1.32–3.70; plans: PR = 5.42, 95% CI 2.71–10.83; attempts: PR = 5.35, 95% CI 2.38–12.03). Very low food security (i.e., more severe FI) exhibited stronger associations yet with suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts (ideation: PR = 6.99, 95% CI 4.10–11.92; plans: PR = 17.21, 95% CI 8.41–35.24; attempts: PR = 14.72, 95% CI 4.96–43.69). Conclusions: Findings indicative of a dose-response relationship between FI and suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts emphasize the need to increase reach of food assistance programs, increase availability of mental health services in food-insecure populations, and routinely screen for FI in mental health practice. HIGHLIGHTS: Cross-sectional data from nationally representative sample of U.S. adults Food insecurity linked with suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts Dose-response relationship observed according to severity of food insecurity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]