Objective The main aim of this study was to examine social comparison as a transdiagnostic factor for disordered eating and depression in older women.Method Ninety-six women ages 65 and older completed a survey online or on paper that included the assessment of general comparison, body-specific comparison, restrictive eating, bulimic symptoms, depressive symptoms, and self-compassion.Results Both general comparison and body-specific comparison were positively associated with restrictive eating, bulimic symptoms, and depressive symptoms (rs: 0.26-0.48). Self-compassion attenuated the association between general comparison and bulimic symptoms, as well as the associations between body-specific comparison and both restrictive eating and depressive symptoms. The combination of high levels of comparison and low levels of self-compassion was associated with the highest levels of psychopathology.Discussion Social comparison and self-compassion appear to have transdiagnostic roles, as potential risk factors and protective factors, respectively, for older women across disordered eating and depression. Given elevations in disordered eating and depression in older women, considering social comparison and self-compassion as part of a transdiagnostic approach is worth exploring.
ABSTRACT Objective Food addiction (FA) frequently co‐occurs with eating disorders (EDs), PTSD, mood/anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders (SUDs), yet few studies have examined clinically meaningful subgroups in multi‐morbid treatment populations. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify subgroups in a highly comorbid sample to determine whether FA marks a distinct profile. Method Seven hundred and forty seven adults admitted to a multi‐site behavioral health center completed self‐report measures of PTSD, complex PTSD, dissociation, depression, anxiety, substance use, ED, and FA. These nine indicators were reduced to four composites (Trauma/Internalizing, ED, FA, and other substance use) and submitted to LPA in R; a parallel analysis entering all nine indicators individually served as a robustness check. Models were fit for one to six profiles, selected on BIC, entropy, minimum profile size, and interpretability, then validated against demographics, diagnoses, and distal outcomes. Results A three‐profile conditional‐independence (EEI) solution fit best: Trauma/Internalizing/ED (23%), lower‐acuity (65%), and FA (12%). The FA profile had by far the highest FA severity and body mass index (BMI) but did not differ from the Trauma/Internalizing/ED profile on ED or Trauma/Internalizing severity. The lower‐acuity profile comprised most patients, with lower symptomatology and markedly better quality of life. The nine‐indicator model recovered the FA profile essentially unchanged, while remaining patients were split by alcohol use rather than acuity. Discussion FA marks a distinct clinical subtype within trauma‐burdened psychiatric populations rather than a uniform feature of ED or severe trauma, supporting routine screening and integrated treatment addressing FA alongside PTSD and ED pathology.
ABSTRACT Objective Embodiment‐based interventions may be particularly promising for promoting positive body image in patients with Eating Disorders (EDs). This preliminary randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of two embodiment‐based interventions on positive body image and ED symptoms in outpatients with EDs, compared with standard treatment. Method Forty‐nine outpatients with EDs recruited from a specialist ED service were randomized to one of three conditions: (a) Treatment as Usual (TAU), (b) TAU plus the From Feeling to Seeing the Body intervention (FSB + TAU), or (c) TAU plus Hatha Yoga (YOGA+TAU). Participants completed measures of body appreciation, functionality appreciation, and ED symptoms. Assessments were conducted at baseline, post‐treatment, and 1‐ and 3‐month follow‐ups. Results Significant time × group interactions emerged for functionality appreciation and ED symptoms. FSB + TAU showed significantly higher functionality appreciation than TAU at post‐treatment and 1‐month follow‐up, with within‐group gains maintained throughout the follow‐up period. YOGA + TAU also showed within‐group improvements in functionality appreciation, although these did not differ significantly from TAU in the between‐group analyses. Body appreciation increased over time across all conditions, with no significant between‐group differences. ED symptoms decreased over time in all groups; however, embodiment‐based interventions did not confer additional reductions beyond those associated with TAU. Discussion Embodiment‐based interventions may represent a promising adjunct to standard treatment for promoting positive body image in outpatients with EDs, particularly functionality appreciation, while no add‐on benefits emerged for ED symptoms, supporting the view that positive body image and ED symptoms may represent related but distinct treatment targets.
ABSTRACT Objective Pregnancy and postpartum are high‐risk periods for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, which adversely affect the wellbeing of pregnant people and their children. The Pregnant Body Project (PBP) is a peer‐led intervention based on an empirically supported eating disorder prevention program, adapted to address the unique context and risks of pregnant individuals who have a prior history of disordered eating. Method Pregnant individuals with a history of disordered eating ( N = 65) were randomized to a 6‐week virtual peer‐led PBP group ( n = 32) or an active time‐ and dose‐matched health education control ( n = 33). Participants completed measures of feasibility, engagement, acceptability, satisfaction, and clinical outcomes (e.g., disordered eating) at pre‐ and post‐test. Descriptive statistics summarize primary implementation outcomes. Secondary clinical outcomes were analyzed using linear mixed effects models with time, treatment group, and their interaction, estimated using full information maximum likelihood under an intent to‐treat approach. Results Recruitment, retention, and data collection met or exceeded preregistered thresholds. Program completion (88%) and homework completion (88%) indicated strong engagement, and PBP participants' average ratings for satisfaction, appropriateness, and acceptability were above the midpoint. Group leaders demonstrated high fidelity and competency. While not statistically significant, small effect sizes favored PBP for improvements in eating disorder symptoms and body image satisfaction (between group d = −0.10 to −0.26; within group d = −0.13 to −0.46). Discussion Findings support the feasibility and acceptability of a virtual, peer‐led intervention tailored to pregnant individuals with a history of disordered eating. These findings provide a foundation for a larger‐scale hybrid effectiveness‐implementation trial.
