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Both affective lability and eating expectancies have been found to predict binge eating. There is the additional possibility that the joint effect of affective lability and eating expectancies incurs further risk: perhaps expectancies for affective relief from eating operate more strongly in those experiencing frequent, rapid shifts in emotion. In the current study, we tested whether such a joint effect predicts binge eating prospectively in college students. We assessed affective lability, eating expectancies, and binge eating in 358 college students at two time points during the first year of college (e.g., December and April). The interaction of affective lability and eating expectancies in December predicted binge eating 4 months later in April. The influence of eating expectancies on binge eating was stronger at higher levels of affective lability. Findings offer support to the hypothesis that risk factors may transact to further elevate risk for eating disorder behaviors. Clinical implications The interaction of affective lability and eating expectancies predicts binge eating Risk factors may interact to further increase binge eating Identification of co-occurring risk factors may have vital treatment implications [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the occurrence and covariation of four eating disorder behaviors across the elementary, middle, and high school years. In a sample of 1,906 youth measured over 5 years at nine time points, from the past year of elementary school through the second year of high school, binge eating, purging (self-induced vomiting), compensatory exercise, and fasting behavior were assessed by self-report. Over the 5-year period, rates of binge eating and purging increased but rates of compensatory exercise and fasting decreased. Girls and boys did not differ in their rates of engagement in any of the behaviors. Within time, the behaviors covaried modestly. Health-care professionals are advised to assess each behavior individually, rather than base interventions on the presence or absence of a diagnosable eating disorder. Gender should not be a basis for assessing for the presence of any of these behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Modifying cognitive distortions, or thinking errors, is crucial in eating disorders (ED) treatment. To address the lack of a personalized measure for ED cognitions, the Thought Inventory was developed. The study aimed to establish its feasibility and validity, identify thinking error contents and types, examine changes in belief of irrational thoughts, and investigate associations with change in ED symptoms. Hypotheses, procedure, and planned analyses were pre-registered to ensure transparency., Methods: Participants (N = 55) completed the Thought Inventory, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, the Eating Pathology Symptom Inventory, the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire at pre-and post-ten weeks of treatment. Using the Thought Inventory, participants collaborated with study therapists to identify ED-related thinking errors and rate the degree of belief in these thoughts on a scale of 0 to 100 %., Results: Cognitions primarily contained self-judgments, food rules, and concern over shape, while catastrophizing/fortune telling, emotional reasoning, and should/must statements were the most common types of thinking errors. Belief in cognitions significantly decreased over treatment and change in thought belief was positively associated with change in ED symptoms., Conclusion: The Thought Inventory shows promise as a personalized measure. Future research should explore whether ED cognitions, assessed in this manner, are a mechanism of change in ED treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The Authors declare that there are no competing interests in relation to this study., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)