Difficulties in emotion regulation are a risk and maintenance factor in eating disorder pathology. Little is known about how emotion regulation strategy use across daily-life contexts relates to global eating disorder symptomatology, and, in particular, whether there are gender differences in these associations. A sample of 175 undergraduate students completed baseline measures of eating disorder pathology, emotion reactivity, and affective symptoms. They then completed daily diary surveys for 14 days, reporting situational characteristics and emotion regulation strategy use in response to the most emotionally salient situation since the previous survey. Correlations between strategy use frequencies and baseline global eating disorder symptomatology were examined. Linear regression models were then estimated for strategy use frequencies significantly correlated with global eating disorder symptomatology, controlling for trait-level emotion reactivity, gender, and age. Gender-stratified regression models were also estimated. Distraction was the only strategy significantly correlated with global eating disorder symptomatology. In adjusted regression models, greater distraction use frequency during the daily diary period was significantly associated with elevated baseline global eating disorder pathology. Gender-stratified analyses indicated that distraction was significantly associated with eating disorder pathology among women, but not among men. Among women, this association remained significant after additional adjustment for depression and anxiety symptoms. Findings support the salience of distraction and suggest a role for experiential avoidance-based emotion regulation processes in eating disorder pathology among women. They also suggest the presence of potentially meaningful gender differences in the association between emotion regulation processes and eating disorder symptomatology. Difficulties in managing emotions are involved in the development and persistence of eating disorder symptoms. However, little is known about how the strategies people use to manage their emotions in everyday life relate to overall eating disorder symptoms, and whether there are gender differences in these relationships. For 14 days, 175 undergraduate students reported the strategies they used to manage their emotions in response to the most emotionally significant situation faced that day. The frequency of using distraction (e.g., shifting attention away from one’s emotions) during this period was associated with greater eating disorder symptoms among women, but not among men. This suggests that reliance on avoiding one’s feelings in response to emotional situations may be related to eating disorder symptoms among women, and that emotion management strategies might relate to eating disorder pathology differently between men and women.
Feeding and eating disorders (FED) are increasingly common among university students, particularly in healthcare settings characterized by high stress and performance demands. However, data on Southern Italian student populations remain limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors, associated psychological factors, and preferred support strategies among Sicilian healthcare students. A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted between 2022 and 2024 across multiple Sicilian universities. The questionnaire included sociodemographic data, the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), and behavioral items assessing overeating, purging behaviors, and suicidal ideation. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with EAT-26 scores. A total of 3,278 students participated. Although most had a normal BMI, substantial body dissatisfaction and unhealthy weight-control behaviors were reported. Overall, 14.2
Family-Based Treatment (FBT) is a first-line treatment for anorexia nervosa in childhood and adolescence, however, remission rates following treatment remain modest. This systematic review aimed to examine definitions of, and identify factors that may influence, non-completion or non-response to FBT in children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa (AN/AAN). A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Three databases (APA PsycINFO, Embase, and Web of Knowledge) were searched from 2005 to 4th August 2025, supplemented by citation searching. Inclusion criteria were studies in any language examining FBT for AN/AAN, in participants aged 18 years or under, in outpatient settings. Quality assessment was completed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. The review was prospectively registered (PROSPERO CRD420251114023). Searches identified 1794 articles, 988 following removal of duplicates. Fifty-five papers examined treatment non-completion and/or non-response (25 primary studies; 30 secondary analytic studies; N = 2,820). Definitions of treatment non-completion and non-response varied significantly. Non-completion rates ranged from 2
Abstract Background Eating disorder (ED) rates are rising in Australia, yet many individuals are not accessing timely or appropriate treatment. A key barrier is the availability of clinicians with the clinical knowledge and training to assess, diagnose, and provide timely, safe, and effective eating disorder treatment. The Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED) introduced the ANZAED Eating Disorder Credential (the Credential) to address this challenge and ease the burden on individuals living with an eating disorder, their carers’, and other supporting health professionals. The current study aims to explore parents’ and carers’ experience of eating disorder treatment in Australia provided by Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinicians (credentialed clinicians) and non-credentialed clinicians. Methods An exploratory mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted involving 51 participants who had cared for a young person, family member, or loved one with an ED who received treatment by a credentialed clinician or a non-credentialed clinician. Participants were recruited via Australian eating disorder services and organisations, with recruitment information distributed through their email and social media platforms. Participants completed a survey with open- and closed-ended questions on their attitudes towards the Credential and their experiences of treatment by a credentialed clinician or non-credentialed clinician. Descriptive statistics and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to examine differences in treatment experiences and perceptions of treatment between participants who had experience with credentialed and non-credentialed clinicians, alongside content analysis of open-ended survey responses. Results The Credential was valued among parents and carers, irrespective of whether they had experience with a credentialed clinician. Parents and carers also expressed an overall preference for treatment from a credentialed clinician. However, when considering perceived therapeutic success, credentialing status was considered less important than other factors such as access, collaborative care, therapeutic rapport, and individualised treatment. Further, despite the introduction of the Credential, several barriers to safe and effective ED treatment remain. Conclusions The Credential is an important step towards improving the standards of care and treatment experiences for individuals with eating disorders and their families. However, addressing ongoing barriers to access and delivery of care will be critical to realising its full potential.
Cumulative exposure to adverse life events during childhood and adolescence is associated with of binge eating symptomology in adulthood. However, the mechanisms that underpin this relationship are uncertain. Emerging research suggests that early life stress increases the risk of future mental health problems by accelerating the maturation of functional connectivity between limbic regions (i.e., amygdala, hippocampus) and the cingulo-opercular network (CON) during adolescence. Correspondingly, the CON has been implicated in binge eating behaviour. Therefore, the current study leveraged longitudinal data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study to ascertain whether stress exposure and binge eating symptoms are mediated by changes in amygdala-CON and hippocampus-CON functional connectivity. Longitudinal mediation models were used to examine the indirect effect of self-reported negative life events at baseline on binge eating symptoms at two-year follow-up via changes in amygdala-CON and hippocampus-CON resting-state functional connectivity among a sample of eligible adolescents (n = 94). We found a significant direct effect, with greater exposure to negative life events at baseline predicting a higher number of binge eating symptoms two years later. However, indirect effects via both amygdala-CON and hippocampus-CON connectivity were not significant. These findings support evidence linking chronic stress exposure with binge eating symptoms in youth, but not a mediating role of cingulo-opercular – limbic functional connectivity. Experiencing stress as a child or adolescent can increase the risk of binge eating, but it’s unclear why. This study explored whether stress exposure in young people aged 9–10 years old predicted binge eating symptoms 2-years later, and if this was related to networks in the brain that are related to the regulation of emotions. Youth who experienced greater lifetime stress exposure at age 9–10 years had more binge eating symptoms 2-years later, but this was unrelated to changes in emotional regulation brain networks. More research is needed to understand the relationship between stress exposure during childhood and adolescents and future binge eating behaviours.
