Identifying and Managing Eating Disorders in Pediatric Obesity Treatment: Current Practices in Weight Management Programs throughout the United States
Topic overview
National survey of 38 providers in pediatric weight management programs found that while 74% screen for eating disorders, most use informal methods without standardized tools. Behavioral health providers showed significantly higher comfort diagnosing binge eating disorder compared to medical providers, highlighting the need for structured screening guidelines and provider training.
Key takeaways
- 74% of pediatric weight management programs screen for eating disorders, but most use informal or non-validated tools rather than standardized screeners.
- Barriers to ED screening include uncertainty about treatment options, lack of provider training, and insufficient clinic time.
- Behavioral health providers show significantly higher comfort diagnosing binge eating disorder than medical providers (100% vs 53%, p=0.031).
- Standardized screening protocols and provider training are needed to improve identification and management of eating disorders in youth with obesity.
- Binge eating disorder is common in adolescents with obesity but detection in weight management programs remains inconsistent and poorly established.
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