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Overlap in Eating Disorders and Obesity in Adolescence

  • Obesity (J McCaffery, Section Editor)
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Abstract

While eating disorders and obesity have traditionally been conceptualized as separate conditions, recent research suggests important overlap in several areas including etiology, comorbidity, risk factors, and prevention approaches. Examining the commonality among these conditions is particularly important as adolescents who present with both eating disorder symptomology and obesity demonstrate poorer outcomes within weight control treatments and are at greater risk for future development of full threshold eating disorders and additional weight gain. The purpose of this paper is to review the research examining the overlap in prevalence rates for eating disorders and obesity in adolescents, as well as shared etiology, risk factors, and psychiatric and medical comorbidities. Current preventive and treatment approaches also will be discussed, while highlighting the need for more integrated assessment, prevention, and treatment efforts that focus on maladaptive eating and activity patterns shared by both eating disorders and obesity.

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Acknowledgments

This project was partially supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney (T32DK063929 fellowship, MBM).

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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  1. Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Ave., PCD4118G, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA

    Diana Rancourt

  2. Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 3015, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA

    Mary Beth McCullough

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  1. Diana Rancourt
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Correspondence to Diana Rancourt.

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Rancourt, D., McCullough, M.B. Overlap in Eating Disorders and Obesity in Adolescence. Curr Diab Rep 15, 78 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-015-0645-y

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