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 reveals that while 74% of pediatric weight management programs screen for eating disorders, most use informal methods without standardized tools. Medical providers report lower comfort diagnosing binge eating disorder compared to behavioral health specialists, highlighting 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 clinic-developed tools rather than validated instruments
- Barriers to ED screening include uncertainty about treatment options (6 providers), lack of training (5), and insufficient time (4)
- 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 eating disorder detection in pediatric obesity treatment settings
Comments