Validation of a childhood eating disorder outcome scale

Abstract

We developed and validated a childhood eating disorder outcome scale based on outcomes associated with body mass index standard deviation score (BMI-SDS). This prospective observational study included 131 children with eating disorders (aged 5–15 years). Participants’ outcomes scales were completed at the first visit and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. The scale evaluated 12 outcomes: body weight change (BW), eating attitude (EA), fear of being fat (FF), body image distortion (BD), menstruation (ME), perceived physical condition (PC), attending school (AS), disease recognition by school (RS), family function (FA), disease recognition by parent (RP), social adaptation (SA), and relationships with friends (RF). Responses to all items were on a four-point Likert scale. Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine the number of factors based on the 12 outcomes. The relation between outcome scale scores and BMI-SDS over the 12-month follow-up period was analyzed. Two types of factors were extracted: disease-specific factors (EA, FF, BD) and biopsychosocial factors (BW, PC, AS, FA, SA, RF). Three items (ME, RS, RP) were excluded because they showed no significant loading effect. There was a significant negative correlation between the outcome scale and BMI-SDS, and changes in outcome scale scores from baseline to 12 months were significantly associated with improvement in BMI-SDS. We developed a childhood eating disorder outcome scale characterized by disease-specific and biopsychosocial factors. Biopsychosocial management combined with a therapeutic approach for disease-specific symptoms may support body weight recovery for children with eating disorders.

Body weight and eating attitudes influence depression improvement in children with eating disorders: a prospective multicenter cohort study

“…In a previous study, our members demonstrated a signi cant negative correlation between the outcome scale and the BMI-SDS, and changes in outcome scale scores from baseline to 12 months were signi cantly associated with BMI-SDS improvement [22]. To the best of our knowledge, this scale is the rst statistically analyzed outcome measure in children with eating disorders.…”

“…Members of the J-PED study discussed the outcome scale items and, as a result of factor analysis, the core symptoms of eating disorders (eating attitudes (EA), fear of being fat (FF), body image distortion (BD)), and the biopsychosocial factors, which covered items in physical and psychological areas based on environmental factors speci c to children (body weight change, menstruation (ME), perception of physical condition, school attendance (SA), disease recognition of school (RS), family functioning (FA), disease recognition by parent (RP), social adaption (SA), and relationships with friends (RF)). After that, an outcome scale was developed by excluding ME, RS, and RP, which had small loadings as a result of factor analysis [22]. The childhood eating disorder outcome scale has total scores ranging from 0 to 36, with 36 being the worst.…”

Transtornos alimentares na infância

“…Na população infantil, dados epidemiológicos como a porcentagem da amostra por transtornos alimentares são relativamente pouco divulgados ou até mesmo pesquisados. Nagamitsu et al (2019) relataram que casos na infância em transição para a adolescência tangem 1%. Levando em conta estes achados, alguns dos principais fatores envolvidos no surgimento e prevalência de quadros de transtornos alimentares em crianças são o medo de engordar (Ataş-Berksoy et al, 2018), distorção de imagem (Ataş-Berksoy et al, 2018;Chatoor et al, 2019), questões familiares, como a morte de algum dos cuidadores (Larsen et al, 2018), influência de hábitos alimentares dos pais refletido no desenvolvimento do transtorno infantil (Lydecker & Grilo, 2016), transtornos psíquicos e fatores genéticos (Larsen et al, 2018), sendo os transtornos comumente iniciados no desenvolvimento da autonomia da criança em se alimentar sozinha (Lucarelli et al, 2017).…”

“…Quando correlações significativas entre o gênero de crianças e transtornos alimentares gerais na infância são analisadas, não é identificada uma prevalência (Aldridge et al, 2015;Copeland et al, 2015;Crapnell et al, 2015;Dmitrzak-Węglarz et al, 2019), sendo as relações mais visíveis em trans-tornos específicos. Os transtornos recorrentes em crianças são compulsão alimentar periódica, anorexia e bulimia associadas; meninos compõem a maioria nas amostras de compulsão, e meninas destacam-se nos demais itens (Moura et al, 2015;Lucarelli et al, 2017;Laporta-Herrero & Latorre, 2019;Nagamitsu et al, 2019).…”