Subtyping children and adolescents with loss of control eating by negative affect and dietary restraint.
OBJECTIVE
Research suggests that subtyping adults with binge eating disorders by dietary restraint and negative affect predicts comorbid psychopathology, binge eating severity, and treatment outcome. Little research has explored the validity and clinical utility of subtyping youth along these dimensions.


METHODS
Children (aged 8-18 years) reporting loss of control eating (n=159) were characterized based upon measures of dietary restraint and negative affect using cluster analysis, and then compared regarding disordered eating attitudes and behaviors, and parent-reported behavior problems.


RESULTS
Robust subtypes characterized by dietary restraint (n=114; 71.7%) and dietary restraint/high negative affect (n=45; 28.3%) emerged. Compared to the former group, the dietary restraint/high negative affect subtype evidenced increased shape and weight concerns, more frequent binge eating episodes, and higher rates of parent-reported problems (all ps<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Similar to findings from the adult literature, the presence of negative affect may mark a more severe variant of loss of control eating in youth. Future research should explore the impact of dietary restraint/negative affect subtypes on psychiatric functioning, body weight, and treatment outcome.
Goldschmidt
Andrea B
AB
Department of Psychology, Washington University, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8134, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. goldscha@psychiatry.wustl.edu
Tanofsky-Kraff
Marian
M
Goossens
Lien
L
Eddy
Kamryn T
KT
Ringham
Rebecca
R
Yanovski
Susan Z
SZ
Braet
Caroline
C
Marcus
Marsha D
MD
Wilfley
Denise E
DE
Yanovski
Jack A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics