Eating patterns in youth with restricting and binge eating/purging type anorexia nervosa

Int J Eat Disord. 2014 Dec;47(8):878-83. doi: 10.1002/eat.22289. Epub 2014 Apr 29.

Abstract

Objective: To describe eating patterns in youth with restricting and binge/purge type anorexia nervosa (AN) and to examine whether eating patterns are associated with binge eating or purging behaviors.

Method: Participants included 160 children and adolescents (M = 15.14 ± 2.17 years) evaluated at The University of Chicago Eating Disorders Program who met criteria for DSM-5 restrictive type AN (AN-R; 75%; n = 120) or binge eating/purging type AN (AN-BE/P; 25%; n = 40). All participants completed the eating disorder examination on initial evaluation.

Results: Youth with AN-R and AN-BE/P differed in their eating patterns, such that youth with AN-R consumed meals and snacks more regularly relative to youth with AN-BE/P. Among youth with AN-BE/P, skipping dinner was associated with a greater number of binge eating episodes (r = -.379, p < .05), while skipping breakfast was associated with a greater number of purging episodes (r = -.309, p < .05).

Discussion: Youth with AN-R generally follow a regular meal schedule, but are likely consuming insufficient amounts of food across meals and snacks. In contrast, youth with AN-BE/P tend to have more irregular eating patterns, which may play a role in binge eating and purging behaviors. Adults monitoring of meals may be beneficial for youth with AN, and particularly those with AN-BE/P who engage in irregular eating patterns.

Keywords: anorexia nervosa; binge eating and purging; eating pattern; meal frequency; youth.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anorexia Nervosa / psychology*
  • Bulimia Nervosa / psychology*
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Feeding Behavior / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meals / psychology