A Pilot Study Evaluating a Binge-Eating Screener in Children: Development of the Children's Brief Binge-Eating Questionnaire in a Pediatric Obesity Clinic

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Eating Disorder Research

Background:

• Children in pediatric obesity programs frequently exhibit binge-eating disorder (BED) symptoms.
• Early identification of BED is crucial for effective intervention.
• Existing screening tools may not be suitable for rapid assessment in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Children's Brief Binge-Eating Questionnaire (CBBEQ).
• To establish the CBBEQ as a rapid and accurate screening tool for BED symptomatology in children and adolescents.
• To assess the reliability and validity of the CBBEQ against established diagnostic criteria and related psychological measures.

Main Methods:

• Seventy patients (ages 7-18) in pediatric obesity programs completed the CBBEQ.
• Participants also underwent the Eating Disorder Assessment for DSM-5 (EDA) for diagnostic criteria.
• Reliability and validity were examined by comparing CBBEQ results with EDA, sleep, depression, and anxiety measures.

Main Results:

• 34% of children met full diagnostic criteria for BED, and 17% met subclinical criteria.
• The CBBEQ showed 100% specificity and 93% sensitivity for BED.
• A cutoff score of 9 on the CBBEQ yielded a 100% negative predictive value for BED.

Conclusions:

• The CBBEQ is a highly specific and sensitive tool for identifying BED symptoms in children.
• This questionnaire can serve as a quick and accurate clinical instrument for non-mental health providers.
• Further validation in larger samples is recommended to confirm its utility in identifying at-risk youth.