Changes in eating disorder symptoms with pediatric obesity treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of behavioral, family-based treatment on disordered eating and child behavior problems for obese 8- to 12-year-old children.


METHODS
We examined disordered eating in children and parents using the Kids' Eating Disorder Survey (KEDS) and the Binge Eating Scale, respectively; and psychologic problems in children and their parents using the Child Behavior Checklist and Symptom Checklist-90, respectively, in 47 families who participated in a family-based obesity treatment program.


RESULTS
Obese children showed significant decreases (-12.5 +/- 13.5) in percent overweight, internalizing problems (-7.0 +/- 7.3), and total behavior problems (-4.8 +/- 6.6) and increases in behavioral competence (3.7 +/- 5.0) over 2 years of measurement; and their parents showed significant decreases in weight (-5.0 +/- 8.3 kg) and reductions in parental distress (-2.3 +/- 7.6) and in disturbed eating and weight-related cognition (-3.2 +/- 5.3). No significant changes were observed in total KEDS (-0.2 +/- 1.9), weight dissatisfaction (-0.3 +/- 1.7), or purging/restricting (0.2 +/- 0.6) scores. Decreases in total KEDS were related to decreases in total behavior problems and externalizing behavior problems.


CONCLUSIONS
These results document improvements in child behavior problems and competence and no change in symptoms of disordered eating in a standardized behavioral weight control program.
Epstein
L H
LH
Department of Pediatrics, University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New York 14214-3000, USA.
Paluch
R A
RA
Saelens
B E
BE
Ernst
M M
MM
Wilfley
D E
DE
D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011340:Problem Solving; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires