Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 5, 2026

A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity
Published on: August 21, 2015
Picking and nibbling in children and adolescents with eating disorders
Andrea E Kass1, Erin C Accurso2, Andrea B Goldschmidt1
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
Objective:
Picking and nibbling (P&N), defined as eating in an unplanned and repetitious way between meals and snacks, is prevalent among adults with eating disorders (EDs), but unexamined among youth with EDs. This study sought to assess the prevalence of P&N in youth with EDs and its association with ED and comorbid pathology.
Method:
Youth (N = 515; ages 7-18) who presented to one outpatient ED research-clinical program were assessed for ED and comorbid pathology.
Results:
Two-fifths (n = 214, 41.6%) of youth endorsed P&N. These individuals were older (p < .001) and had a higher percent expected body weight (p = .006) than those who denied P&N. Controlling for age and percent expected body weight, P&N was only associated with global ED pathology in youth with anorexia nervosa (AN) or atypical AN (p = .007). P&N was not associated with ED diagnosis, ED pathology in youth with bulimia nervosa or subclinical bulimia nervosa, binge eating, compensatory behaviors, secret eating, or the presence of a mood or anxiety disorder (p's > .05).
Discussion:
Consistent with research in adults, P&N is prevalent but not significantly associated with ED pathology, except for global ED pathology in youth with AN/atypical AN, or comorbid disorders.
More Related Videos
04:19A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: May 10, 2022
05:15Author Spotlight: Accessible M&M-Based Mouse Model for Investigating Binge Eating Disorder - Insights into Eating Behaviors, Anxiety, and Neural Mechanisms
Published on: January 10, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Oral
Weaning, typically occurring...
Taste Buds and Receptors
Optimal Foraging