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A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity
Published on: August 21, 2015
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Weight/Shape concerns in youth with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Grace B Jhe1,2,3, Emma Chad-Friedman1,2,3, Olivia Eldredge4
1Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Eating Disorders
|September 21, 2024
Summary
Body weight and shape concerns are present in youth with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), particularly those who are overweight or gender diverse. These concerns vary significantly by weight status and gender identity in ARFID patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Eating Disorders Research
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is characterized by eating limitations not driven by body image or weight concerns.
- Research on body weight/shape concerns in ARFID across the weight spectrum is limited.
- Understanding these concerns is crucial for comprehensive ARFID care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate body weight/shape concerns in youth with ARFID across the full weight spectrum.
- To explore variations in these concerns based on ARFID subtypes, age, and gender.
- To inform tailored interventions for ARFID patients.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 272 youth (ages 8-19) diagnosed with ARFID.
- Utilized non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis tests to analyze data.
- Examined relationships between weight/shape concerns and weight status, ARFID subtypes, age, and gender.
Main Results:
- Youth with ARFID and overweight/obesity reported significantly higher weight/shape concerns compared to normal or underweight peers.
- Gender diverse youth with ARFID showed greater weight/shape concerns than cis-male or cis-female participants.
- No significant differences in weight/shape concerns were found based on age or ARFID subtype.
Conclusions:
- Body weight/shape concerns are a relevant factor in ARFID, especially in overweight youth and gender diverse individuals.
- Clinical assessments for ARFID should consider weight status and gender identity when evaluating body image perceptions.
- Further research is needed to understand the nuances of body image in ARFID across diverse populations.
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