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Lifetime Weight Course as a Phenotypic Marker of Severity and Therapeutic Response in Patients with Eating Disorders.

Author
Abstract
:

The association between lifetime weight fluctuations and clinical characteristics has been widely studied in populations with eating disorders (ED). However, there is a lack of literature examining the potential role of weight course as a transdiagnostic factor in ED so far. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare ED severity and treatment outcomes among four specific BMI profiles based on BMI-trajectories across the lifespan: (a) persistent obesity (OB-OB; ( = 74)), (b) obesity in the past but currently in a normal weight range (OB-NW; = 156), (c) normal weight throughout the lifespan (NW-NW; = 756), and (d) current obesity but previously at normal weight (NW-OB; = 314). Lifetime obesity is associated with greater general psychopathology and personality traits such as low persistence and self-directedness, and high reward dependence. Additionally, greater extreme weight changes (NW-OB and OB-NW) were associated with higher psychopathology but not with greater ED severity. Higher dropout rates were found in the OB-OB group. These results shed new light on the BMI trajectory as a transdiagnostic feature playing a pivotal role in the severity and treatment outcome in patients with ED.

Year of Publication
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2021
Journal
:
Nutrients
Volume
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13
Issue
:
6
Date Published
:
2021
URL
:
https://www.mdpi.com/resolver?pii=nu13062034
DOI
:
10.3390/nu13062034
Short Title
:
Nutrients
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