Interplay of polygenic liability with birth-related, somatic, and psychosocial factors in anorexia nervosa risk: a nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: Although several types of risk factors for anorexia nervosa (AN) have been identified, including birth-related factors, somatic, and psychosocial risk factors, their interplay with genetic susceptibility remains unclear. Genetic and epidemiological interplay in AN risk were examined using data from Danish nationwide registers. AN polygenic risk score (PRS) and risk factor associations, confounding from AN PRS and/or parental psychiatric history on the association between the risk factors and AN risk, and interactions between AN PRS and each level of target risk factor on AN risk were estimated. METHODS: Participants were individuals born in Denmark between 1981 and 2008 including nationwide-representative data from the iPSYCH2015, and Danish AN cases from the Anorexia Nervosa Genetics Initiative and Eating Disorder Genetics Initiative cohorts. A total of 7003 individuals with AN and 45 229 individuals without a registered AN diagnosis were included. We included 22 AN risk factors from Danish registers. RESULTS: Risk factors showing association with PRS for AN included urbanicity, parental ages, genitourinary tract infection, and parental socioeconomic factors. Risk factors showed the expected association to AN risk, and this association was only slightly attenuated when adjusted for parental history of psychiatric disorders or/and for the AN PRS. The interaction analyses revealed a differential effect of AN PRS according to the level of the following risk factors: sex, maternal age, genitourinary tract infection, C-section, parental socioeconomic factors and psychiatric history. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide evidence for interactions between AN PRS and certain risk-factors, illustrating potential diverse risk pathways to AN diagnosis.

Disordered eating and cardiometabolic risk factors in Chinese women: evidence from the China Health and Nutrition Survey.

Disordered eating (DE) is associated with elevated cardiometabolic risk (CMR) factors, yet little is known about this association in non-Western countries. We examined the association between DE characteristics and CMR and tested the potential mediating role of BMI. This cross-sectional study included 2005 Chinese women (aged 18-50 years) from the 2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey. Loss of control, restraint, shape concern and weight concern were assessed using selected questions from the SCOFF questionnaire and the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire. Eight CMR were measured by trained staff. Generalised linear models examined associations between DE characteristics with CMR accounting for dependencies between individuals in the same household. We tested whether BMI potentially mediated significant associations using structural equation modelling. Shape concern was associated with systolic blood pressure (ß (95 % CI) 0·06 (0·01, 0·10)), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (0·07 (95 % CI 0·03, 0·11)) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (-0·08 (95 % CI -0·12, -0·04)). Weight concern was associated with DBP (0·06 (95 % CI 0·02, 0·10)), triglyceride (0·06 (95 % CI 0·02, 0·10)) and HDL-cholesterol (-0·10 (95 % CI -0·14, -0·07)). Higher scores on DE characteristics were associated with higher BMI, and higher BMI was further associated with lower HDL-cholesterol and higher other CMR. In summary, we observed significant associations between shape and weight concerns with some CMR in Chinese women, and these associations were potentially partially mediated by BMI. Our findings suggest that prevention and intervention strategies focusing on addressing DE could potentially help reduce the burden of CMR in China, possibly through controlling BMI.

Assessing Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) Symptoms Using the Nine Item ARFID Screen in >9000 Swedish Adults With and Without Eating Disorders.

OBJECTIVE: The Nine Item ARFID Scale (NIAS) is a widely used measure assessing symptoms of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Previous studies suggest that individuals with eating disorders driven by shape/weight concerns also have elevated scores on the NIAS. To further describe NIAS scores among individuals with diverse current and previous eating disorders, we characterized NIAS scores in a large sample of individuals with eating disorders and evaluated overlap in symptoms measured by the NIAS and the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) version 6.0. METHOD: Our sample comprised 9148 participants from the Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative Sweden (EDGI-SE), who completed surveys including NIAS and EDE-Q. NIAS scores were calculated and compared by eating disorder diagnostic group using descriptive statistics and linear models. RESULTS: Participants with current anorexia nervosa demonstrated the highest mean NIAS scores and had the greatest proportion (57.0%) of individuals scoring above a clinical cutoff on at least one of the NIAS subscales. Individuals with bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and other specified feeding or eating disorder also demonstrated elevated NIAS scores compared to individuals with no lifetime history of an eating disorder (ps < 0.05). All subscales of the NIAS showed small to moderate correlations with all subscales of the EDE-Q (rs = 0.26-0.40). DISCUSSION: Our results substantiate that individuals with eating disorders other than ARFID demonstrate elevated scores on the NIAS, suggesting that this tool is inadequate on its own for differentiating ARFID from shape/weight-motivated eating disorders. Further research is needed to inform clinical interventions addressing the co-occurrence of ARFID-related drivers and shape/weight-related motivation for dietary restriction.

Laxative Abuse Is Associated With a Depleted Gut Microbial Community Structure Among Women and Men With Binge-Eating Disorder or Bulimia Nervosa: The Binge Eating Genetics Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the associations of binge eating, compensatory behaviors, and dietary restraint with the composition and diversity of the intestinal microbiota among participants with binge-eating disorder or bulimia nervosa. METHODS: We analyzed data from 265 participants aged 18 to 45 years with current binge-eating disorder or bulimia nervosa enrolled in the Binge Eating Genetics Initiative study. We evaluated the associations of binge-eating frequency; presence/absence and frequency of vomiting, laxative use, and compulsive exercise; and dietary restraint with abundances of gut microbial genera, species, and diversity (Shannon diversity, Faith phylogenetic diversity, and Peilou's evenness) from 16S rRNA gene sequencing. General linear regression models adjusted for potential confounders, including age and current body mass index, were used to test associations; p values were corrected for the false discovery rate. RESULTS: The normalized abundance of four genus- and species-level gut microbes and three diversity indices were lower among Binge Eating Genetics Initiative participants who reported any laxative use compared with those who reported no laxative use. Vomiting frequency was positively associated with the normalized abundance of the genus Escherichia-Shigella , a potential pathobiont, although the association was attenuated to nonsignificance after adjustment for age, body mass index, and binge-eating episodes. CONCLUSIONS: Laxative use was highly and uniformly predictive of a reduced gut microbial diversity including potential commensals and pathobionts, and should be assessed and accounted for in all future studies of eating disorders and the gut microbiota. Future studies should collect data on specific medications-particularly laxatives-and dietary intake to obtain unbiased estimates of the effect of eating disorders on the gut microbiota and identify potential downstream clinical implications.Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04162574 .

Mapping anorexia nervosa genes to clinical phenotypes.

BACKGROUND: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric disorder with complex etiology, with a significant portion of disease risk imparted by genetics. Traditional genome-wide association studies (GWAS) produce principal evidence for the association of genetic variants with disease. Transcriptomic imputation (TI) allows for the translation of those variants into regulatory mechanisms, which can then be used to assess the functional outcome of genetically regulated gene expression (GReX) in a broader setting through the use of phenome-wide association studies (pheWASs) in large and diverse clinical biobank populations with electronic health record phenotypes. METHODS: Here, we applied TI using S-PrediXcan to translate the most recent PGC-ED AN GWAS findings into AN-GReX. For significant genes, we imputed AN-GReX in the Mount Sinai BioMe™ Biobank and performed pheWASs on over 2000 outcomes to test the clinical consequences of aberrant expression of these genes. We performed a secondary analysis to assess the impact of body mass index (BMI) and sex on AN-GReX clinical associations. RESULTS: Our S-PrediXcan analysis identified 53 genes associated with AN, including what is, to our knowledge, the first-genetic association of AN with the major histocompatibility complex. AN-GReX was associated with autoimmune, metabolic, and gastrointestinal diagnoses in our biobank cohort, as well as measures of cholesterol, medications, substance use, and pain. Additionally, our analyses showed moderation of AN-GReX associations with measures of cholesterol and substance use by BMI, and moderation of AN-GReX associations with celiac disease by sex. CONCLUSIONS: Our BMI-stratified results provide potential avenues of functional mechanism for AN-genes to investigate further.

Associations Between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptom Dimensions and Disordered Eating Symptoms in Adolescence: A Population-Based Twin Study.

Although bivariate associations between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and eating disorders in adolescent girls and boys have been previously identified, the mechanistic link underlying the symptom-level associations remains unclear. We evaluated shared genetic and environmental influences on ADHD symptoms and disordered eating in 819 female and 756 male twins from the Swedish TCHAD cohort using bivariate models. Common additive genetic and unique environmental effects accounted for majority of ADHD and disordered eating associations in a differential manner. For girls, the strongest genetic correlation was observed for cognitive/inattention problems-bulimia (0.54), with genetic factors accounting for 67% of the phenotypic correlation. For boys, the strongest genetic correlations were observed for conduct problems-bulimia and hyperactivity-bulimia (~ 0.54), accounting for 83% and 95% of the phenotypic correlation, respectively. As per our findings, the risk of comorbidity and shared genetics highlights the need for preventative measures and specialized treatment for ADHD and disordered eating in both sexes.

Perceptions and experiences with eating disorder treatment in the first year of COVID-19: A longitudinal qualitative analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic created significant challenges in accessing and receiving treatment for individuals with eating disorders (EDs). The purpose of this study is to explore perceptions of and experiences with ED treatment during the first year of the pandemic among individuals with past and self-reported EDs in the United States. METHODS: Online surveys were administered to adults (N = 510) with a past or current self-reported ED at 13 timepoints between April 2020 and May 2021. Using longitudinal qualitative analysis, 5651 free-text responses were examined to capture experiences with ED treatment and generate inferences of change over time. RESULTS: We categorized results into four sequential, temporal quarters and identified patterns that explained participants' perceptions of facilitators, barriers, and experiences with ED treatment over time: Quarter 1. Treatment Disruption and Reorienting Recovery; Quarter 2. Accumulating COVID-19 Stress and Virtual Treatment Woes; Quarter 3. A Continuation of Inadequate Care; and Quarter 4. Ongoing Adaptation and Adjustment to Uncertainty. Participant experiences were marked by numerous barriers to accessing care, challenges adjusting to virtual treatment, unmet treatment needs, and beginning acceptance of telehealth. DISCUSSION: Our findings present a timeline to help evaluate challenges related to navigating the switch to virtual care which created significant disruption to ED recovery. Participants spent much of the first year trying to adjust to unemployment, loss of insurance, and lack of access to in-person treatment. Future research should identify additional strategies to improve the receipt and experience of care for EDs. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings suggest that individuals with eating disorders were significantly challenged by accumulating COVID-19 stress, worsening symptomatology, and limited access to effective treatment during the first year of the pandemic. This knowledge can guide clinicians, treatment centers, and policy makers in addressing the behavioral health needs of individuals impacted by disordered eating amidst emergent public health crises.

Course and predictors of eating disorder symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and pandemic-related eating disorder concerns among adults with eating disorders during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic and public health mitigation measures have negatively impacted individuals with eating disorders (ED). We evaluated changes in and predictors of ED symptoms, pandemic-related ED concerns, and anxiety symptoms across the first 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals with self-reported EDs in the United States (US), Sweden (SE), and the Netherlands (NL). METHOD: Participants in the US (N = 510), SE (N = 982), and NL (N = 510) completed an online survey assessing ED symptoms (binge eating, restriction, compensatory behaviors, and anxiety about being unable to exercise), general anxiety symptoms, and pandemic-related ED concerns about accessing food, lack of structure and social support, being in a triggering environment, and food and treatment costs. In the US and NL, respondents completed surveys beginning April 2020 and continuing monthly for a year. In SE, respondents completed baseline surveys in May 2020, a six-month follow-up around December 2020, and a 12-month follow-up in May 2021. RESULTS: Three patterns emerged: (1) a curvilinear course with the highest level of symptoms at baseline, declining through November 2020, and increasing through the rest of the year; (2) a linear declining course over time; and (3) a stable course with no changes. Worries about COVID-19 infection, lockdown, concerns about lack of structure and social support, and concerns about accessing food consistent with one's recovery meal plan predicted increases in ED symptoms. DISCUSSION: ED symptoms tracked with pandemic-related concerns in people with EDs. Conceptualizing predictors of symptoms may inform therapy and public health resources that reduce the impact of pandemics on mental health. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic had negative impacts on people with eating disorders, including amplification of mental health symptoms and stressors around peak periods of infection and COVID-19 restrictions. These findings inform medical providers, policy-makers, and community-based supports about the information and resource needs of this group to ensure efficient dissemination in future public health emergencies and during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Binge-eating disorder with and without lifetime anorexia nervosa: A comparison of sociodemographic and clinical features.

OBJECTIVE: To compare individuals who have experienced binge-eating disorder (BED) and anorexia nervosa (AN) (BED AN+) to those who have experienced BED and not AN (BED AN-). METHOD: Participants (N = 898) met criteria for lifetime BED and reported current binge eating. Approximately 14% had a lifetime diagnosis of AN. Analyses compared BED AN+ and BED AN- on sociodemographic variables and clinical history. RESULTS: The presence of lifetime AN was associated with more severe eating disorder symptoms, including earlier onset, more frequent, more chronic, and more types of eating disorder behaviors over the lifetime, as well as a higher lifetime prevalence of bulimia nervosa (BN). Participants with lifetime AN reported being more likely to have received treatments for BED or BN, had significantly lower minimum, current, and maximum BMIs, had more severe general anxiety, and were significantly more likely to be younger and female. In the full sample, the lifetime prevalence of unhealthy weight control behaviors was high and treatment utilization was low, despite an average 15-year history since symptom onset. Gastrointestinal disorders and comorbid anxiety, depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms were prevalent. DISCUSSION: Individuals fared poorly on a wide array of domains, yet those with lifetime AN fared considerably more poorly. All patients with BED should be screened for mental health and gastrointestinal comorbidities and offered referral and treatment options. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Individuals experiencing binge-eating disorder have severe symptomology, but those who have experienced binge-eating disorder and anorexia nervosa fare even more poorly. Our study emphasizes that patients with binge-eating disorder would benefit from being screened for mental health and gastrointestinal comorbidities, and clinicians should consider history of unhealthy weight control behaviors to inform treatment and relapse prevention.

Risk factors for anorexia nervosa: A population-based investigation of sex differences in polygenic risk and early life exposures.

OBJECTIVE: To examine sex differences in risk factors for anorexia nervosa (AN). METHOD: This population-based study involved 44,743 individuals (6,239 AN cases including 5,818 females and 421 males, and 38,504 controls including 18,818 females and 19,686 males) born in Denmark between May 1981 and December 2009. Follow-up began on the individual's sixth birthday and ended at AN diagnosis, emigration, death, or December 31, 2016, whichever occurred first. Exposures included socioeconomic status (SES), pregnancy, birth, and early childhood factors based on data from Danish registers, and psychiatric and metabolic polygenic risk scores (PRS) based on genetic data. Hazard ratios were estimated using weighted Cox proportional hazards models stratified by sex (assigned at birth), with AN diagnosis as the outcome. RESULTS: The effects of early life exposures and PRS on AN risk were comparable between females and males. Although we observed some differences in the magnitude and direction of effects, there were no significant interactions between sex and SES, pregnancy, birth, or early childhood exposures. The effects of most PRS on AN risk were highly similar between the sexes. We observed significant sex-specific effects of parental psychiatric history and body mass index PRS, though these effects did not survive corrections for multiple comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for AN are comparable between females and males. Collaboration across countries with large registers is needed to further investigate sex-specific effects of genetic, biological, and environmental exposures on AN risk, including exposures in later childhood and adolescence as well as the additive effects of exposures. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Sex differences in the prevalence and clinical presentation of AN warrant examination of sex-specific risk factors. This population-based study indicates that the effects of polygenic risk and early life exposures on AN risk are comparable between females and males. Collaboration between countries with large registers is needed to further investigate sex-specific AN risk factors and improve early identification of AN.

Longer-term impact of COVID-19 among individuals with self-reported eating disorders in the United States, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed eating disorder (ED) illness status, symptomatology, treatment access, anxiety, and depression in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals with a pre-existing ED in the United States (US), the Netherlands (NL), and Sweden (SE). METHODS: Participants completed online surveys in April-July 2020, at the early stage of the pandemic, and one year later. At one-year follow-up, we added questions addressing retrospective changes in ED symptoms, treatment, and anxiety/depression since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We present descriptive statistics and assess change in ED symptomatology, treatment, and anxiety/depression among those with an active or lingering ED. RESULTS: Participants (US n = 132; NL n = 219; SE n = 702) were mostly young and female with a history of anorexia nervosa (>60% in all three countries). Across countries, respondents reported impact of COVID-19 on ED symptoms at both time points, with improvement in US and NL at one-year follow-up, and stable but less impact on ED symptoms in SE. Furthermore, at one-year follow-up, roughly half of those in treatment reported reduced treatment access and quality, and the majority of the sample reported increased anxiety and depressive mood since the start of the pandemic. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that the self-perceived impact of COVID-19 changed over time but remained concerning even one year after the start of the pandemic. Clinicians, community organizations, and policy makers are encouraged to address potentially changing treatment needs in the face of public health emergency events. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings suggest that the impact of COVID-19 on individuals with eating disorders decreased over time but remained concerning even one year after the start of the pandemic and that the impact differed across countries. Clinicians, community organizations, and policy makers are encouraged to incorporate this knowledge to address potentially changing treatment needs in the face of public health emergency events.

ARFID Genes and Environment (ARFID-GEN): study protocol.

BACKGROUND: The Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder - Genes and Environment (ARFID-GEN) study is a study of genetic and environmental factors that contribute to risk for developing ARFID in children and adults. METHODS: A total of 3,000 children and adults with ARFID from the United States will be included. Parents/guardians and their children with ARFID (ages 7 to 17) and adults with ARFID (ages 18 +) will complete comprehensive online consent, parent verification of child assent (when applicable), and phenotyping. Enrolled participants with ARFID will submit a saliva sample for genotyping. A genome-wide association study of ARFID will be conducted. DISCUSSION: ARFID-GEN, a large-scale genetic study of ARFID, is designed to rapidly advance the study of the genetics of eating disorders. We will explicate the genetic architecture of ARFID relative to other eating disorders and to other psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and metabolic disorders and traits. Our goal is for ARFID to deliver "actionable" findings that can be transformed into clinically meaningful insights. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ARFID-GEN is a registered clinical trial: clinicaltrials.gov NCT05605067.

The role of parents in behavioral treatment for adolescent obesity: design and rationale for the TEENS+ randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: There is an urgent need for innovative approaches to adolescent obesity treatment, particularly among individuals from racially and ethnically marginalized backgrounds, who face increased risk of obesity and its associated morbidity and mortality. There is a particular dearth of research on the long-term efficacy of adolescent obesity treatments. Further, research and clinical practice guidelines consistently recommend parents' inclusion in their adolescents' obesity treatment, yet the most effective strategy to engage parents in adolescent obesity treatment remains unclear. Towards that end, this investigation will conduct a fully-powered, randomized clinical trial to examine the efficacy of two distinct approaches to involving parents in their adolescents' obesity treatment. METHODS: Participants will be 210 12-16 year old adolescents (body mass index [BMI]≥85th percentile) and parents (BMI≥25 kg/m2) with overweight or obesity. Dyads will be randomized to one of two 4-month treatments: 1) TEENS+Parents as Coaches (PAC), engaging parents as helpers in their child's weight management via parent skills training based on authoritative parenting, or 2) TEENS+Parent Weight Loss (PWL), engaging parents in their own behavioral weight management. All adolescents will participate in the TEENS+ protocol, which includes nutrition education with dietary goals, supervised physical activity, and behavioral support, and integrates motivational interviewing to enhance treatment engagement. Assessments of anthropometrics, dietary intake, physical activity, parenting and home environment variables will be completed at 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12 months with the primary endpoint at 12-month follow-up. DISCUSSION: Results of this investigation have the potential to significantly advance science in this area and ultimately inform clinical practice guidelines related to the role of parents in adolescent obesity treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03851796. Registered: February 22, 2019.

Comorbidity between eating disorders and psychiatric disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Previous literature has established an increased risk of eating disorders among individuals with other psychiatric disorders and vice versa. However, often studies have focused on eating disorders as a single diagnostic entity and/or investigated selected psychiatric comorbidities. We conducted a comprehensive study, exploring bidirectional associations between different types of eating disorders and broad groups of all other psychiatric disorders, to identify patterns of comorbidity. METHOD: We included all people born in Denmark 1963-2010. We collected information on eating disorders and considered the risk of subsequent psychiatric disorders using Cox-proportional hazards regression. Absolute risks were calculated using competing risks survival analyses. We also considered prior psychiatric disorders and subsequent eating disorders. RESULTS: An increased risk was seen for almost all disorder pairs of diagnoses evaluated. Following an anorexia nervosa (AN) diagnosis, the median hazard ratio for the different subsequent psychiatric disorders was 3.80 (range 2.48-6.15); following an other eating disorder (OED) diagnosis, it was 3.16 (range 2.05-5.14). After different psychiatric disorder diagnoses, the median hazard ratio was 2.66 for later AN (range 1.21-5.31), and 2.51 for later OED (range 1.25-4.10). Absolute risk of eating disorders was also higher among those with other psychiatric disorders than those without. DISCUSSION: In this broad examination, we identified bidirectional increases in risk of comorbidity for those with both eating disorder diagnoses and psychiatric disorder diagnoses. Although our findings indicate different patterns of comorbidity between eating disorders, these variations were generally small.

Associations between parental socioeconomic-, family-, and sibling status and risk of eating disorders in offspring in a Danish national female cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Studies on parental socioeconomic status (SES) and family risk factors for eating disorders (EDs) have yielded inconsistent results; however, several studies have identified high parental educational attainment as a risk factor. The aim was to evaluate associations of parental SES and family composition with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) in the offspring, adjusting for parental age and parental mental health. METHODS: The cohort included women born in Denmark between January 1, 1989 and December 31, 2010, derived from Danish national registers. Each person was followed from their sixth birthday until onset of the disorder of interest or to December 31, 2016. Exposure variables were: childhood SES, defined as individually evaluated parental level of income, occupation, and education; sibling status; and family composition. Outcomes were: AN, BN, EDNOS, and major depressive disorder (MDD), included as a psychiatric comparison disorder. Risks were estimated using Cox proportional hazards. RESULTS: High parental SES was associated with increased risk of especially AN, and less so BN and EDNOS, in offspring. In comparison, low SES was associated with a higher risk of MDD. No differences between maternal or paternal socioeconomic risk factors were found. Family composition and sibling status showed limited influence on ED risk. DISCUSSION: SES shows opposite associations with AN than MDD, whereas associations with BN and EDNOS are intermediate. The socioeconomic backdrop of AN differs markedly from that reported in other psychiatric disorders. Whether that is due to genetic and/or environmental factors remains unknown. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Parental socioeconomic background (SES) may influence eating disorders risk in offspring somewhat differently than other psychiatric disorders. In Denmark, higher parental SES was associated with increased risk of, particularly, anorexia nervosa (AN). Importantly AN does strike across the SES spectrum. We must ensure that individuals of all backgrounds have equal access to care and are equally likely to be detected and treated appropriately for eating disorders.

Retention, engagement, and binge-eating outcomes: Evaluating feasibility of the Binge-Eating Genetics Initiative study.

OBJECTIVE: Using preliminary data from the Binge-Eating Genetics Initiative (BEGIN), we evaluated the feasibility of delivering an eating disorder digital app, Recovery Record, through smartphone and wearable technology for individuals with binge-type eating disorders. METHODS: Participants (n = 170; 96% female) between 18 and 45 years old with lived experience of binge-eating disorder or bulimia nervosa and current binge-eating episodes were recruited through the Recovery Record app. They were randomized into a Watch (first-generation Apple Watch + iPhone) or iPhone group; they engaged with the app over 30 days and completed baseline and endpoint surveys. Retention, engagement, and associations between severity of illness and engagement were evaluated. RESULTS: Significantly more participants in the Watch group completed the study (p = .045); this group had greater engagement than the iPhone group (p's < .05; pseudo-R2 McFadden effect size = .01-.34). Overall, binge-eating episodes, reported for the previous 28 days, were significantly reduced from baseline (mean = 12.3) to endpoint (mean = 6.4): most participants in the Watch (60%) and iPhone (66%) groups reported reduced binge-eating episodes from baseline to endpoint. There were no significant group differences across measures of binge eating. In the Watch group, participants with fewer episodes of binge eating at baseline were more engaged (p's < .05; pseudo-R2 McFadden  = .01-.02). Engagement did not significantly predict binge eating at endpoint nor change in binge-eating episodes from baseline to endpoint for both the Watch and iPhone groups. DISCUSSION: Using wearable technology alongside iPhones to deliver an eating disorder app may improve study completion and app engagement compared with using iPhones alone.

Shared Genetic Factors Contributing to the Overlap between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms and Overweight/Obesity in Swedish Adolescent Girls and Boys.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity are positively associated, with increasing evidence that they share genetic risk factors. Our aim was to examine whether these findings apply to both types of ADHD symptoms for female and male adolescents. We used data from 791 girl and 735 boy twins ages 16-17 years to examine sex-specific phenotypic correlations between the presence of ADHD symptoms and overweight/obese status. For correlations exceeding .20, we then fit bivariate twin models to estimate the genetic and environmental correlations between the presence of ADHD symptoms and overweight/obese status. ADHD symptoms and height/weight were parent- and self-reported, respectively. Phenotypic correlations were .30 (girls) and .08 (boys) for inattention and overweight/obese status and .23 (girls) and .14 (boys) for hyperactivity/impulsivity and overweight/obese status. In girls, both types of ADHD symptoms and overweight/obese status were highly heritable, with unique environmental effects comprising the remaining variance. Furthermore, shared genetic effects explained most of the phenotypic correlations in girls. Results suggest that the positive association of both types of ADHD symptoms with obesity may be stronger in girls than boys. Further, in girls, these associations may stem primarily from shared genetic factors.

Design and rationale for evaluating the impact of salad bars on elementary school students' fruit, vegetable, and energy intake: a wait list control, cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Most children do not consume the recommended amount of fruit and vegetable (FV) servings. Changing the school food environment can be a cost-efficient, effective approach to improving children's dietary quality. There is great popular support for school salad bars as a means to increase children's FV intake within the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), yet empirical research is limited. Further, although FV consumption can facilitate healthy weight management if these foods replace high calorie items, there is a need to enhance understanding of salad bars' influence on children's diet quality and energy intake within the NSLP. This is particularly important to investigate in schools in communities characterized by high poverty, as students they serve are particularly likely to rely on school meals. METHODS: This report describes the design and rationale of a federally-funded investigation that uses validated methods to evaluate school salad bars. This district plans to install salad bars into 141 elementary schools over 5-years, facilitating the conduct of a waitlist control, cluster randomized controlled trial. Specifically, 12 pairs of matched schools will be randomly selected: half receiving a salad bar (Intervention) and half serving pre-portioned FVs only, standard under the NSLP (Control). Thus, groups will have different FV presentation methods; however, all schools will operate under a policy requiring students to take at least one FV serving. Schools will be matched on Title I status and percent of racial/ethnic minoritized students. Intake will be objectively assessed at lunch in each school pair, prior to (baseline), and 4-6 weeks after salad bars are installed (post), yielding ~ 14,160 lunch observations throughout the study duration. Cafeteria sales and NSLP participation data will be obtained to determine how salad bars impact revenues. Finally, implementation factors and cafeteria personnel's perspectives will be assessed, to identify barriers and facilitators to salad bars use and inform sustainability efforts. Proposed methods and current status of this investigation due to COVID-19 are described. DISCUSSION: Results will have great potential to inform school nutrition policies and programs designed to improve dietary quality and reduce obesity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered (10/28/22) in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05605483).

Association of autism diagnosis and polygenic scores with eating disorder severity.

Among individuals with eating disorders (ED), those with co-occurring autism are often considered to have more severe presentations and poorer prognosis. However, previous findings have been contradictory and limited by small sample size and/or cross-sectional assessment of autistic traits. We examine the hypothesis that autism diagnosis and autism polygenic score (PGS) are associated with increased ED severity in a large ED cohort using a broad range of ED severity indicators. Our cohort included 3189 individuals (64 males) born 1977-2000 with current or previous anorexia nervosa who participated in the Anorexia Nervosa Genetics Initiative-Sweden (ANGI-SE) and for whom genotypes and linkage to national registers were available. We identified 134 (4.2%) individuals with registered autism diagnoses. Individuals with confirmed autism diagnosis had significantly more severe ED across three sets of severity indicators. Some of the largest effects were found for the proportion of individuals who attempted suicide and who received tube feeding (higher in autism), and for the time spent in inpatient care (longer in autism). Results for autism PGS were not statistically significant. Adapting ED treatment to the needs of individuals with co-occurring autism is an important research direction to improve treatment outcome in this group.

Recommendations to encourage participation of individuals from diverse backgrounds in psychiatric genetic studies.

We present innovative research practices in psychiatric genetic studies to ensure representation of individuals from diverse ancestry, sex assigned at birth, gender identity, age, body shape and size, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Due to histories of inappropriate and harmful practices against marginalized groups in both psychiatry and genetics, people of certain identities may be hesitant to participate in research studies. Yet their participation is essential to ensure diverse representation, as it is incorrect to assume that the same genetic and environmental factors influence the risk for various psychiatric disorders across all demographic groups. We present approaches developed as part of the Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative (EDGI), a study that required tailored approaches to recruit diverse populations across many countries. Considerations include research priorities and design, recruitment and study branding, transparency, and community investment and ownership. Ensuring representation in participants is costly and funders need to provide adequate support to achieve diversity in recruitment in prime awards, not just as supplemental afterthoughts. The need for diverse samples in genetic studies is critical to minimize the risk of perpetuating health disparities in psychiatry and other health research. Although the EDGI strategies were designed specifically to attract and enroll individuals with eating disorders, our approach is broadly applicable across psychiatry and other fields.