Screening and Monitoring for Eating Disorders in Youth Presenting for Obesity Treatment

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Anna Tanner, Emory; Lesley Williams, Mayo Clinic; Andrea Goldschmidt, University of Pittsburgh
• Language: English
• Date: 2025-02-14
• Publisher: AAP Publications
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: AAP 2025
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): https://doi.org/10.1542/pedsos.2024-000333; https://publications.aap.org/pediatricsopenscience/article/1/1/1/200652/Screening-and-Monitoring-for-Eating-Disorders-in?searchresult=1?autologincheck=redirected
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Pediatrics Open Science
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 1
• End Page: 4
• Keywords: Eating Disorders; Obesity
• Research Categories: Nutrition

Abstract

Eating disorders (EDs) are serious brain-based disorders manifesting as maladaptive eating- and weight-related behaviors that are accompanied by distressing cognitions/attitudes and serious medical complications. These disorders may occur in individuals at any weight. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2023 clinical practice guideline for managing pediatric obesity1 highlights that EDs may present in youth seeking weight management. This publication raises awareness that pediatricians need increased knowledge on EDs in youth with elevated body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) to ensure safe, high-quality care. Specific areas of critical concern include inadequate familiarity with the prevalence and presentations of EDs in youth at higher weights, lack of a validated screening tool for EDs in children and adolescents, and knowledge gaps around medical risks of youth at higher weights who develop restrictive EDs. This perspectives piece aims to assist pediatricians who treat youth at higher weights in critically reviewing the 2023 AAP guidelines on obesity to improve ED detection and intervention.