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A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
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A latent class analysis to empirically describe eating disorders through developmental stages
Sonja A Swanson1, Nicholas J Horton, Ross D Crosby
1Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
The International Journal of Eating Disorders
|June 10, 2014
Summary
This study identified six distinct eating disorder patterns in females aged 9-24, with prevalence varying by age. These patterns are linked to increased risks of substance use and depression.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Current eating disorder classifications rely on adult data.
- Empirical validation across developmental stages is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically classify disordered eating in females from preadolescence to young adulthood.
- To assess associations between identified classes and adverse outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Latent class analysis of 9,039 girls from the Growing Up Today Study.
- Annual/biennial data collection since 1996 (ages 9-14).
- Generalized estimating equations for outcome associations.
Main Results:
- Six classes identified: asymptomatic, shape/weight concerns, overeating, and three resembling binge eating disorder, purging disorder, and bulimia nervosa.
- Symptomatic classes increased with age.
- Associated with drug use, binge drinking, and depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
- A classification system with six classes, including subclinical types, may aid disordered eating research in adolescent and young adult females.
- This framework supports broader definitions aligning with DSM-5 criteria.
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