A preliminary examination of Loss of Control Eating Disorder (LOC-ED) in middle childhood.
Loss of Control Eating Disorder (LOC-ED) has been proposed as a diagnostic category for children 6-12years with binge-type eating. However, characteristics of youth with LOC-ED have not been examined. We tested the hypothesis that the proposed criteria for LOC-ED would identify children with greater adiposity, more disordered eating attitudes, and greater mood disturbance than those without LOC-ED. Participants were 251 youth (10.29years±1.54, 53.8% female, 57.8% White, 35.5% Black, 2.0% Asian, 4.8% Hispanic, 53.0% overweight). Youth were interviewed regarding eating attitudes and behaviors, completed questionnaires to assess general psychopathology, and underwent measurements of body fat mass. Using previously proposed criteria for LOC-ED, children were classified as LOC-ED (n=19), LOC in the absence of the full disorder (subLOC, n=33), and youth not reporting LOC (noLOC, n=199). LOC-ED youth had higher BMIz (p=0.001) and adiposity (p=0.003) and reported greater disordered eating concerns (p<0.001) compared to noLOC youth. Compared to subLOC youth, LOC-ED youth had non-significantly higher BMIz (p=0.11), and significantly higher adiposity (p=0.04) and disordered eating attitudes (p=0.02). SubLOC youth had greater disordered eating concerns (p<0.001) and BMIz (p=0.03) but did not differ in adiposity (p=0.33) compared to noLOC youth. These preliminary data suggest that LOC-ED youth are elevated on disordered eating cognitions and anthropometric measures compared to youth without LOC-ED. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine if those with LOC-ED are at particularly increased risk for progression of disordered eating and excess weight gain.
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), United States; Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, United States.
Camden E
CE
Matherne
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), United States; Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, United States. Electronic address: marian.tanofsky-kraff@usuhs.edu.
Marian
M
Tanofsky-Kraff
Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, United States.
Anne M
AM
Altschul
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), United States; Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, United States.
Lisa M
LM
Shank
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), United States; Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, United States.
Natasha A
NA
Schvey
Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, United States.
Sheila M
SM
Brady
Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, United States.
Ovidiu
O
Galescu
Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, United States.
Andrew P
AP
Demidowich
Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, United States; Obesity and Eating Disorders Program, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, United States.
Susan Z
SZ
Yanovski
Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, United States.
Jack A
JA
Yanovski
D050154:Adiposity; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001290:Attitude; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000523:psychology
Binge eating; Loss of control eating; Obesity; Prevention