The diabetes body project: Study protocol of a multi-site trial of a virtually delivered eating disorder prevention program for young women with type 1 diabetes.

AIM: Young women with type 1 diabetes are a high-risk population for eating disorders (ED). Prevention programs are lacking. In young women without diabetes, the Body Project has produced reductions in ED risk factors, ED symptoms and future ED onset. Therefore, the Body Project was adapted to type 1 diabetes, the Diabetes Body Project (DBP). In this protocol, we describe the multi-site randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate efficacy of the DBP. METHODS: This is an ongoing RCT with four sites (Europe and US). In total 280, 14-35 year-old, women with type 1 diabetes ≥1 year and some level of body image concerns will be recruited in 2023. Participants are randomized to either virtual DBP groups or an educational control. The study constitutes 5 measurement points distributed over 2 years. The primary aim is to test if DBP will produce significantly greater reductions in ED behaviours, ED symptoms and future ED onset. The secondary aim is to test if DBP has significantly greater improvements in diabetes distress, quality of life and glycaemic outcomes. RESULTS: We expect that DBP will be more efficacious in reducing ED behaviours, ED symptoms and ED onset compared to the control condition. Additionally, we hope to gain new knowledge on how DBP may affect diabetes-related outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: If DBP proves efficacious, it has potential for immediate, clinical implementation at low-cost and may contribute to broad prevention of future ED onset among young women with type 1 diabetes. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT05399446.

The "Young Athlete Body Project"-A pilot study evaluating the acceptability of and results from an eating disorder prevention program for adolescent athletes.

BACKGROUND: The high frequency of eating disorders (EDs) in sports speaks of a need for early-stage preventive measures. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the acceptability of an age, sex, and sports adapted version of the "Body Project" and changes in mental health symptoms. METHODS: This noncontrolled pilot study included a class of athletes from 18 sports (N = 73, 13-14 years) at a sport-specialized junior high school in six small-group workshops. We interviewed 34 athletes on program acceptability, and all athletes responded to questionnaires at pretest, posttest, and 6-month follow-up including the Body Appreciation Scale 2-Children, Social Attitudes towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 revised, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short form-12 modified, and questions about body appearance pressure (BAP). RESULTS: Athletes found the program acceptable and beneficial, but some missed physically oriented activities or did not identify with the focus, particularly boys. There were acceptable levels in mental health constructs before the workshops. There were temporary changes in the percentage of boys experiencing "BAP in society" by -14.8% points (95% CI: -.6 to .0, p = .04), % in total group experiencing "BAP at school" by +11% points (95% CI: .0-.2, p = .05), thinness idealization by girls (g = .6, p = .002) and total group (g = .4, p = .006), and muscularity idealization by boys (g = .3, p = .05) and total group (g = .23, p = .04). DISCUSSION: Athletes experienced benefits from the Young Athlete Body Project. Seeing stabilization in outcomes may mean a dampening of the otherwise expected worsening in body appreciation and ED symptoms over time. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Adolescent athletes are at risk for developing EDs. Due to lack of prevention programs for this group, we adapted and evaluated a well-documented effective program, the Body Project, to fit male and female athletes <15 years. The athletes accepted the program and experienced participation benefits, with stronger acceptance among girls. Our promising findings encourage larger scaled randomized controlled trials to further evaluate a refined version this program among very young athletes.

A pilot study of a virtually delivered dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program for young women with type 1 diabetes: within-subject changes over 6-month follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: In an uncontrolled study, we previously demonstrated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of our virtual diabetes-specific version (Diabetes Body Project) of the eating disorder (ED) prevention program the Body Project. The aim of the current study was to evaluate further this program for women with type 1 diabetes (T1D) by assessing within-subject changes in outcomes from pretest over 6-month follow-up. METHODS: Young women with T1D aged 16-35 years were invited to participate in Diabetes Body Project groups. A total of 35 participants were allocated to five Diabetes Body Project groups (six meetings over 6 weeks). Primary outcome measures included ED risk factors and symptoms, and secondary outcomes included three T1D-specific constructs previously found to be associated with ED pathology: glycemic control as measured by HbA1c level, diabetes distress, and illness perceptions. RESULTS: Within-subject reductions, with medium-to-large effect sizes, were observed for the primary (ED pathology, body dissatisfaction, thin-ideal internalization, and appearance ideals and pressures) and secondary outcomes (within-condition Cohen's ds ranged from .34 to 1.70). CONCLUSION: The virtual Diabetes Body Project appears to be a promising intervention worthy of more rigorous evaluation. A randomized controlled trial with at least a 1-year follow-up is warranted to determine its efficacy compared to a control condition.

Co-occurrence of nonsuicidal self-injury and eating disorder pathology in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the co-occurrence of nonsuicidal self-injurious (NSSI) behaviors and eating disorder (ED) pathology in community samples of adolescents. METHODS: A total of 1558 Norwegian upper secondary school students (Grades 11, 12, and 13) completed the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory and a measure of ED pathology. RESULTS: Adolescents (53.1% F, 46.9% M) were a mean age of 17.1 years. A higher level of ED pathology was reported (12.1 vs. 5.3, p < .001) among adolescents who had a history of NSSI. Significantly higher levels of ED pathology were found among females who reported hitting themselves until bruised, head banging, severe scratching, and burning with a lighter, but not cutting, or the other forms of self-injury. Of adolescents with a history of NSSI, 60% of females and 15% of males scored above a cutoff for ED pathology. Of adolescents scoring above a cutoff for ED pathology, 42.5% of females and 37.1% of males had engaged in lifetime NSSI. DISCUSSION: Adolescents-in particular, females- with a history of NSSI reported significantly greater ED pathology. Notably, a higher proportion of males with ED pathology reported lifetime self-injury than vice versa, underscoring the importance of carefully screening for the presence of self-harm among males with ED pathology. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Over 1500 upper secondary school students with an average age of 17 years completed an online survey assessing current ED pathology and lifetime NSSI. Adolescents, particularly females, with a history of self-harm reported significantly more ED pathology. Findings also indicated the need to carefully screen for self-harm among males with ED pathology. Parents, schools, and health professionals should be aware that self-harm and ED pathology commonly co-occur and warrant assessment.

Estimated prevalence of DSM-5 eating disorders in Norwegian adolescents: A community based two-phase study.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the prevalence of DSM-5 eating disorders (EDs) in adolescents. In Norway, the most recent community-based prevalence study in adolescents was published more than 20 years ago. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of DSM-5 EDs in Norwegian adolescents using a two-phase design. METHOD: A total of 1558 upper secondary school students (827 girls and 730 boys) (ages 16-19) were screened for at-risk ED pathology using the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire short version (EDE-QS). A sub-sample of 99 adolescents (87 girls and 12 boys) subsequently participated in a clinical interview using the Eating Disorder Assessment for DSM-5 (EDA-5). RESULTS: Eating pathology was common, with 19.9% of participants scoring at or above the applied EDE-QS cut-off. The estimated prevalence of any ED was 9.4% in the total sample, and 16.4% in girls. The number of boys who took part in the diagnostic interview was low, thus, diagnostic data from boys were not analyzed separately. Prevalence estimates of AN, BN, BED, and OSFED in girls were 2.7%, 1.1%, 1.9%, and 10.7%. Atypical AN was the most frequently assigned diagnosis in girls. DISCUSSION: Sampling biases limit generalizability of results. Additional population-based studies are warranted to assess the prevalence of EDs in Norwegian youth. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: In this study, 1558 adolescents, aged 16-19, were screened for ED pathology. A subsample completed a diagnostic interview using DSM-5 criteria. Results showed that one in five adolescents displayed problematic eating behaviors and cognitions. The estimated prevalence rate of any ED was 9.4%. Sampling biases limit generalizability of results. Additional population-based studies are warranted to assess the prevalence of EDs in Norwegian youth.

Feasibility of a virtually delivered eating disorder prevention program for young females with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a virtual diabetes-specific version of the eating disorder (ED) prevention program the Body Project, and to assess feasibility and preliminary efficacy of this program for young females with type 1 diabetes. METHOD: Young females with type 1 diabetes aged 16-35 years were invited to participate in the study. A total of 35 participants were allocated to five Diabetes Body Project groups (six meetings over 6 weeks) and completed pretest assessments; 26 participants completed all sessions and posttest assessments (<7 days after last meeting). Primary measures included ED risk factors and symptoms, and secondary outcomes included diabetes-specific constructs previously found to be associated with ED psychopathology (e.g., diabetes distress and illness perceptions). RESULTS: The ease of recruitment, timely conduct of five groups, moderate drop-out rate and appreciation of the intervention by participants indicated that the Diabetes Body Project is feasible. Meaningful reductions occurred on the primary outcomes (i.e., ED psychopathology, body dissatisfaction, and thin ideal internalization) and on internalization of appearance ideals and appearance pressures at posttest (Cohen's d ranging from .63 to .83, which are medium to large effects). Small to medium effect sizes were found for diabetes illness perceptions and distress (.41 and .48, respectively). DISCUSSION: The virtual Diabetes Body Project is a promising and much-needed intervention, worthy of more rigorous evaluation. A randomized controlled trial is warranted to determine its effectiveness compared with a control condition.

Psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) in a large female sample of adults with and without eating disorders.

BACKGROUND: Internationally, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is commonly used to assess the frequency and severity of depressive symptoms. However, psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the PHQ-9 have only been assessed in adolescents. We present normative data for women and an evaluation of the psychometric properties (internal consistency, convergent validity, and factor structure) of the Norwegian PHQ-9 among women with and without eating disorders (ED). METHODS: In this case-control study, a total of 793 females aged 18-78 years (mean 30.39; SD 9.83) completed an online self-report assessment. Measures included the ED100K and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) to assess ED psychopathology, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) scale and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale Short Form (DERS-SF) to assess symptoms of anxiety and emotion regulation deficits. Participants were categorized into three groups, i.e., previous ED (19.7%, n = 148), current ED (36.3%, n = 272), and no history of ED (44.0%, n = 330), based on self-reported scores on the ED 100 K and the EDE-Q. RESULTS: Mean PHQ-9 total score for those with a previous history of ED was 10.67 (SD 6.33), for those with a current ED 16.61 (SD 5.84), and for those with no lifetime history of ED 6.83 (SD 5.58). Excellent internal consistency was demonstrated by Cronbach's alpha's for individuals with a previous ED (.88), for individuals with a current ED (.86), and for individuals with no history of ED (.88). Acceptable convergent validity was indicated based on significant correlations between the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 and DERS-SF. Confirmatory Factor Analyses revealed a mediocre fit for a one-factor structure of the PHQ-9, regardless of diagnostic status. CONCLUSIONS: The psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the PHQ-9 are acceptable across females with and without ED, and the PHQ-9 can be recommended for use in clinical ED settings and for people without mental disorders.

Presence of eating disorder symptoms in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is common in patients with eating disorders (EDs). There is a lack of research investigating the presence of ED symptoms among patients with OCD, despite concerns that many of these patients may be at high risk for EDs. Our objective was to assess the presence of ED symptoms in patients receiving treatment for OCD. METHODS: Adult patients with OCD (n = 132, 71% females) and controls (n = 260, 90% females) completed the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) at admission to a specialized OCD outpatient unit. A small subset of patients (n = 22) also completed the EDE-Q 3-months after end of treatment. RESULTS: At the group-level, mean EDE-Q scores did not differ significantly between female patients and controls. However, female patients compared to controls were significantly more likely to score above the EDE-Q cut-off (23% vs. 11%) and have a probable ED (9% vs. 1%), indicating elevated rates of ED symptoms in the clinical range. There was no evidence of elevated rates of ED symptoms in male patients, though sample sizes were small. Preliminary follow-up data showed that certain ED symptoms improved significantly from admission to 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that while ED symptoms are not generally elevated in female patients with OCD, a considerable subset of female patients may have a clinical ED or be at high risk of developing one. Clinicians should be alert to ED symptoms in female patients with OCD, and our findings raise the issue of whether ED screening of female patients with OCD is warranted.

Unhealthy eating and weight dissatisfaction in adolescents who never, occasionally, or regularly use smokeless tobacco (Swedish snus).

OBJECTIVE: Although cigarette smoking has been linked to weight-related concerns and unhealthy weight control practices, little is known about weight dissatisfaction and eating among adolescents who use smokeless tobacco (SLT) products. The use of Swedish moist snuff (snus) has increased dramatically over recent years, surpassing cigarette smoking among young people in several countries. This study investigated differences in unhealthy eating behaviors and weight dissatisfaction in male and female adolescents who never, occasionally, or regularly use snus. METHOD: Adolescents aged 16-19 years enrolled in high school (11th, 12th, and 13th grades) completed a cross-sectional, online survey of adolescent health and well-being. Meal skipping and snus use frequency were assessed in the total sample (N = 23,622), and items assessing weight dissatisfaction (n = 4,195) and eating-related pathology (n = 3,563) were administered to subsamples. Analyses were adjusted for cigarette smoking, parental education, and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: Adolescents who used snus, especially on a daily basis, reported less regular breakfast, lunch, and dinner consumption. Females who used snus on an occasional basis reported significantly more disturbed eating pathology. Snus use was associated with weight dissatisfaction in males and females, manifesting differentially according to gender and snus use frequency. DISCUSSION: Unhealthy eating behaviors and weight dissatisfaction were significantly elevated among snus users aged 16-19 years. An increased awareness that occasional snus use may signal disturbed eating pathology among adolescent females is important for detection and prevention efforts. Parents, schools, and health professionals should be vigilant for possible snus use among weight-dissatisfied adolescents.

Eating patterns in adolescents with type 1 diabetes: Associations with metabolic control, insulin omission, and eating disorder pathology.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate eating patterns among male and female adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D), and the associations with age, zBMI, eating disorder (ED) pathology, intentional insulin omission, and metabolic control. METHOD: The sample consisted of 104 adolescents (58.6% females) with child-onset T1D, mean age of 15.7 years (SD 1.8) and mean zBMI of 0.4 (SD 0.8). The Child Eating Disorder Examination (ChEDE) assessed meal/snack frequency and ED pathology. T1D clinical data was obtained from the Norwegian Childhood Diabetes Registry. RESULTS: A significantly lower proportion of females than males (73.8% vs 97.7%) consumed breakfast on a daily basis. Approximately 50% of both genders ate lunch and 90% ate dinner daily. Among females, skipping breakfast was significantly associated with higher global ED psychopathology, shape concerns, self-induced vomiting, binge eating, insulin omission due to shape/weight concerns, and poorer metabolic control. Less frequent lunch consumption was significantly associated with poorer metabolic control. Skipping dinner was significantly associated with older age, higher dietary restraint, eating concerns, self-induced vomiting, and insulin omission. Among males, less frequent consumption of lunch and evening snacks was associated with attitudinal features of ED, including shape/weight concerns and dietary restraint. DISCUSSION: Among adolescents with T1D, irregular or infrequent meal consumption appears to signal potential ED pathology, as well as being associated with poorer metabolic control. These findings suggest the importance of routinely assessing eating patterns in adolescents with T1D to improve detection of ED pathology and to facilitate improved metabolic control and the associated risk of somatic complications.

Transitioning from DSM-IV to DSM-5: A systematic review of eating disorder prevalence assessment.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature on assessment of eating disorder prevalence during the DSM-IV era (1994-2015). METHOD: A PubMed search was conducted targeting articles on prevalence, incidence and epidemiology of eating disorders. The review was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, and was limited to DSM-IV based eating disorder diagnoses published between 1994 and 2015. RESULTS: A total of 74 studies fulfilled inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Results yielded evidence of over 40 different assessment instruments used to assess eating disorder prevalence, with the EAT-40 being the most commonly used screening instrument, and the SCID being the most frequently used interview. The vast majority of studies employed two-stage designs, closely followed by clinical interviews. Observations of higher prevalence rates were found in studies employing self-reports compared to two-stage designs and interviews. DISCUSSION: Eating disorder prevalence rates have varied significantly during the DSM-IV era, and are dependent on assessment methods used and samples investigated. Following the transition to the DSM-5, eating disorder prevalence will change, warranting novel approaches to assessment and treatment planning. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Further evidence of the association between social media use, eating disorder pathology and appearance ideals and pressure: a cross-sectional study in Norwegian adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated how the plethora of contemporary social media (SM) platforms relate to, and influence eating disorder (ED) pathology, appearance ideals and pressure to conform to these ideals in youth. METHODS: In this study, 1558 girls (53%) and boys (47%), predominantly within the 16-19 age range, completed an online questionnaire assessing SM use and perceived influence on appearance, ED pathology, internalization of appearance ideals and perceived appearance pressure. RESULTS: Results showed that ED pathology was common, particularly in girls, and that internalization of body ideals was gender specific, a thin ideal being more prevalent in girls, and a muscular ideal being more common in boys. Results also showed a strong association between ED pathology and perceived pressure to conform to these appearance ideals. One fourth of the participants reported spending four hours or more on SM daily, and 80% of girls reported that SM, particularly Instagram and TikTok, had a negative influence on how they felt about their appearance. These girls had significantly higher levels of ED pathology and reported higher levels of appearance pressure from the media. CONCLUSION: A clear pattern of associations between photo- and video specific SM platforms, ED pathology, internalization of body ideals and perceived pressure was found in this study. Adolescent girls appeared to be particularly at risk. The results illustrate an imperative need to keep addressing the potential risks of SM use in adolescents, and to continue monitoring the effect of SM on young people's view of themselves, their appearance, and their eating habits. Future studies should attempt to identify aspects of SM use that may be particularly detrimental for girls and boys in their formative years, but also those that may enhance adolescents' satisfaction and appreciation of their body and appearance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered in the Open Science Framework (Identifier: 10.17605/OSF.IO/5RB6P https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/5RB6P ).

Social Media (SM) has become an increasingly influential part of people's everyday life, and has transformed the patterns of communication, especially in teenagers. In this study, we investigated the relationship between eleven commonly used SM platforms in adolescents, eating disorder (ED) pathology, appearance ideals, and pressure to conform to these ideals. A little over 1500 adolescent girls and boys, predominantly within the 16-19 age range, participated in the study. Most girls who participated reported that SM use, particularly Instagram and TikTok, had a negative influence on how they felt about their appearance. These girls had significantly higher levels of ED pathology and reported higher levels of appearance pressure from the media. Future studies should attempt to identify aspects of SM use that are particularly harmful for girls and boys in their formative years, but also those who have the potential of strengthening the sense of self-worth and contribute to positive identity formation.

Effectiveness of virtually delivered Body Project groups to prevent eating disorders in young women at risk: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders (EDs) are a group of mental illnesses associated with significant psychological and physiological consequences. Overall, only about one-fifth of individuals with EDs receive treatment and treatment is effective for only about one-third for those who receive care. The development and implementation of effective prevention approaches for those at risk is therefore pivotal. The Body Project is the most effective ED prevention program for at-risk women according to several meta-analyses, but reach is limited since delivery, traditionally, has been in-person. Moreover, peer-led Body Project groups have been reported to produce stronger effects than clinician-led Body Project groups when delivered in-person. This has not yet been examined for virtually delivered Body Project groups. This study therefore seeks to investigate the effect of virtual Body Project groups delivered by peers versus clinicians on ED risk factors, ED symptoms, and prospective ED onset. METHODS: Young women with body image concerns aged 16-25 years (N = 441) will be included in the study and randomized to three conditions: (i) virtually delivered Body Project groups led by clinicians; (ii) virtually delivered Body Project groups led by peers; and (iii) psychoeducational control group. Participants will complete assessments at five timepoints over two years (pretest, posttest, 6-months, 1-year, and 2-years). DISCUSSION: Further research is needed to examine approaches to increase the potential for broad implementation of prevention of EDs. The virtual modality of the Body Project could markedly expand the reach for young women at risk. If findings confirm that peers can deliver virtual Body Project groups as effectively as clinicians, this will further enhance the implementation potential. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The present study has been registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05993728).

Stressful life events and resilience in individuals with and without a history of eating disorders: a latent class analysis.

BACKGROUND: Eating disorders (EDs) are associated with a range of stressful life events, but few have investigated protective factors that may affect these associations. The current study used mixture modelling to describe typologies in life stress exposure and availability of protective resources in individuals with and without eating disorders (EDs). METHODS: A case - control sample (n = 916) completed measures of stressful life events, resilience protective factors, emotion regulation, and symptoms of EDs, depression and anxiety. We conducted latent class analyses to identify subgroups of stress exposure and profile analyses of emotional regulation and resilience. The resulting two latent variables were combined to explore effects on ED status and symptomatology, depression, and anxiety as distal outcome variables. RESULTS: We identified four classes of stressful life events (generally low, some abuse/bullying, sexual/emotional assaults, and high adversity). For protective resources, we identified six profiles that ranged from low to higher levels of protection with variations in social/family resources. The latent protection variable contributed more strongly to the distal outcomes than the latent stress variable, but did not moderate the latent stress and distal outcome variable relationships. Profiles characterized by lower protective resources included higher proportions of individuals with a lifetime ED, and were associated with higher scores on all symptom measures. CONCLUSIONS: Intra- and interpersonal protective resources were strongly associated with lifetime EDs and current mental health symptom burden after accounting for stressful event exposure, suggesting protective factors may be useful to target in the clinical treatment of patients with ED.

Previous studies have highlighted risk factors for eating disorders such as experiencing stressful or traumatic events. Protective resources, on the other hand, have received less attention. Factors such as resilience and emotion regulation are associated with eating disorders and could be important protective factors against severe illness in the presence of before mentioned risk factors. This study investigated levels of both potential risk (stressful life events) and protective (resilience and emotion regulation) factors in individuals with and without eating disorders. We found that individuals with low levels of protective resources showed more symptoms related to eating disorders, depression, and anxiety, suggesting that promoting protective factors could be an important avenue for future research, and a potential target for prevention and intervention efforts.

Evaluation of a novel eating disorder prevention program for young women with type 1 diabetes: A preliminary randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate whether the Body Project prevention program adapted for young women with type 1 diabetes (Diabetes Body Project) reduces eating disorder (ED) risk factors and symptoms. METHODS: Young women (aged 15-30) at high-risk for EDs due to having type 1 diabetes and body image concerns (N = 55) were randomized to virtually delivered Diabetes Body Project groups or an educational control condition, completing measures at pretest, posttest, and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: Diabetes Body Project versus the control participants showed significantly greater reductions in thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, diabetes distress, diabetes eating pathology, and ED symptoms by posttest, and greater reductions in diabetes eating pathology and ED symptoms, and greater improvements in quality of life by 3-month follow-up, which were medium to large effects (d's ranged from -0.43 to -0.90). Although control participants showed a worsening of glycemic control (time in range) verses Diabetes Body Project participants, this difference was non-significant (d = 0.26). CONCLUSIONS: Virtually delivered Diabetes Body Project decreased ED risk factors and symptoms in young women with type 1 diabetes. A well powered randomized controlled trial is warranted to evaluate this intervention over longer follow-up.

"I am not alone". A qualitative feasibility study of eating disorders prevention groups for young females with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: The overall aim of the current study was to qualitatively explore the feasibility of eating disorder prevention groups for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). METHOD: A generic qualitative focus group design was applied. 17 participants accepted the invitation to attend focus group interviews after completing the intervention. Five focus groups were conducted in total. RESULTS: The qualitative analysis generated one overarching theme, named the benefit of meeting peers with a lived experience of T1D and body image concerns, and four themes: the need for an integrated focus on diabetes, personal relevance, providing sufficient balance between structure and flexibility and enabling a different perspective. CONCLUSION: Results show overall positive feedback regarding the content and structure of the intervention, and underline the importance of targeting preventive efforts to specific risk groups.

Young females with type 1 Diabetes constitute a high-risk group for developing eating problems and eating disorders. Interventions specifically targeted at preventing body image and body dissatisfaction issues in this group are therefore very important. The current study thus aimed to explore participants' experiences with a Diabetes specific version of the targeted prevention program the Body Project, Diabetes Body Project. Participants were invited to attend focus groups interviews after completing the intervention. Results from the study consist of one overarching theme and four themes. Participants highly appreciated the opportunity to meet other young females with type 1 Diabetes, underlining the importance of interventions specifically targeted at this high-risk group. They also emphasized that the script would benefit from a more integrated focus on type 1 Diabetes throughout all six sessions of the intervention.

Convergent validity of the eating disorder examination and the eating disorder examination-questionnaire among university women in Norway.

The present study compared the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE; 16.0) and the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q; 6.0) and investigated the psychometric properties of the Norwegian translation of the EDE. Fifty-eight university women aged 19-41 years (mean BMI = 23) were assessed with the EDE and EDE-Q. Satisfactory internal consistency and inter-rater reliability were demonstrated for the Norwegian translation of the EDE. Generally high convergent validity between the EDE and EDE-Q was found, with correlations ranging from 0.60 (Eating Concern) to 0.86 (Weight Concern). Agreement for OBEs and vomiting were excellent, while driven exercising generated lower levels of convergence. Consistent with prior studies, the EDE-Q generated significantly higher levels of psychopathology, although effect sizes were small. Owing to the significantly higher EDE-Q scores, it is ill advised to administer these two instruments interchangeably, as this may fail to produce meaningful data.

Reliability and validity of the Norwegian translation of the Child Eating Disorder Examination (ChEDE).

The Child Eating Disorder Examination (ChEDE) is a valid and reliable semi-structured interview, which measures eating-disorder specific psychopathology in children and young adolescents. The instrument is an adaptation of version 12.0D of the original Eating Disorder Examination (EDE 12.0) for adults. The Norwegian translation of the ChEDE is currently the only instrument for assessing eating disorder psychopathology in Norwegian children and adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Norwegian translation of the ChEDE 12.0. The Norwegian version of ChEDE 12.0 was administered to 15 Norwegian children with anorexia nervosa (AN), 15 children with diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM) and two groups of 15 age-matched controls. The groups were compared using a matched pairs design. The results showed that the subscale scores of the AN group were significantly higher than those of the other groups, and the DM comparison group did not differ from its control group. The current AN group scored significantly higher on the Shape Concern subscale than the previous UK sample, with implications for construct validity or cross-cultural effects worthy of further study. Inter-rater reliability was generally high (r=0.91 to 1.00), although there were significant differences between raters on specific items for individual participants. Alpha coefficients for each of the ChEDE subscales indicated a high degree of internal consistency. It was concluded that the Norwegian version of the ChEDE 12 has adequate psychometric properties and can be recommended for clinical and research use with young people with eating disorders in Norway.

Disturbed eating, illness perceptions, and coping among adults with type 1 diabetes on intensified insulin treatment, and their associations with metabolic control.

This study investigated associations between psychological aspects and metabolic control among adults with type 1 diabetes (n = 282). Linear regression analyses demonstrated that the illness perception personal control and the coping strategy seeking emotional social support explained 23.2 percent of the variance in hemoglobin A1c among females (ß = 0.40, p < 0.001 and ß = -0.22, p < 0.01, respectively). Among males, only personal control remained significant, explaining 13.9 percent of the variance in hemoglobin A1c (ß = 0.37, p < 0.001). The associations between psychological correlates and hemoglobin A1c indicate that addressing such aspects clinically may facilitate metabolic control, thereby potentially contributing to reduce the risk of complications.

The impact of psychological aspects, age, and BMI on eating disorder psychopathology among adult males and females with type 1 diabetes.

This study investigated correlates of eating disorder (ED) psychopathology among adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). A total of 282 males (n = 112) and females (n = 170) with T1D (18-79 years) participated. Overall, psychological aspects (i.e. illness perceptions, coping strategies, insulin beliefs, anxiety, and depression) were associated with ED psychopathology. Associations were generally stronger among females than males. In a regression model, age, BMI, personal control, and anxiety explained 51% of the variance in ED psychopathology among females, whereas BMI, personal control, and anxiety explained 47% of the variance among males. Greater clinical awareness of health psychological aspects may contribute to reduce the risk of developing ED.