Disordered eating and mindful eating are under-studied among athletes with disabilities; clarifying their interplay could inform potential prevention strategies. This study examined the relationship between disordered eating and mindful eating in athletes across different sexes and ability statuses, addressing the limited research in disabled populations. In this cross-sectional study, 140 Turkish athletes (70 with physical disabilities; 70 without) completed the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire and the 30-item Mindful Eating Questionnaire. Group differences, Pearson correlations and multiple linear regression were calculated. Global disordered-eating and mindful-eating scores did not differ by disability status or sex. Athletes with disabilities reported lower Emotional Eating (17.6 ± 4.7 vs. 19.4 ± 4.5; p = 0.023) and, among men, higher Mindfulness sub scores (16.0 ± 2.6 vs. 14.6 ± 2.7; p = 0.006). Mindful eating correlated inversely with disordered eating in both groups (with disabilities: r = -0.49, p < 0.001; without: r = -0.32, p = 0.014) and was strongest in women with disabilities (r = -0.76, p < 0.001). Disordered eating emerged as a significant predictor of lower mindful eating (β = -4.66, p < 0.001), explaining 1% of its variance after controlling for age, sex, body-mass index and disability status. Mindful eating is inversely associated with disordered eating across athletes, with the relationship particularly pronounced in women with disabilities. Interventions that cultivate mindful eating could be relevant for managing disordered eating in para-sport.

The Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (YFAS 2.0) consists of 35 items and assesses food addiction (FA) according to the 11 DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for substance-related and addictive disorders, plus impairment or distress. Its 13-item short form, the modified YFAS 2.0 (mYFAS 2.0), has been found to yield a lower symptom count and a lower FA prevalence. This work aimed to develop an alternative short form of the YFAS 2.0, the revised YFAS 2.0 (rYFAS 2.0), designed to reproduce the YFAS 2.0 results as closely as possible. Two studies were conducted in large, independent samples of adolescents recruited from middle and high schools to develop the instrument and to evaluate its psychometric properties (factor structure, internal consistency, and measurement invariance across gender and school level), as well as its ability to reproduce YFAS 2.0 symptom counts, FA diagnoses, and FA correlates. The rYFAS 2.0 consists of 24 items and showed a one-dimensional factor structure, very good internal consistency, and invariance across gender and school level. It reproduced YFAS 2.0 symptom counts and FA diagnoses very well and better than the mYFAS 2.0 (for comparisons with YFAS 2.0 symptom counts, mean Cohen's d = 0.47 and 0.75 for rYFAS 2.0 and mYFAS 2.0, mean Pearson's r = .99 and .92 for rYFAS 2.0 and mYFAS 2.0; mean overall accuracy in replicating YFAS 2.0 FA diagnoses was .982 and .911 for rYFAS 2.0 and mYFAS 2.0, respectively). It also reproduced YFAS 2.0 findings on FA prevalence and correlates. The rYFAS 2.0 is a valuable instrument for use in clinical settings and studies requiring an efficient yet sensitive measure of FA.

Global migration has heightened the need to understand how cultural transitions influence body image and eating behaviors. In the U.S., Chinese international students represent one of the largest migrant student groups, with women showing particular vulnerability to body image concerns and disordered eating. Yet, the ways in which cultural transition and acculturative stress shape these outcomes remain insufficiently studied. This study investigated female Chinese international students using online surveys with free-response questions administered during researcher-supervised video sessions prior to their migration to the U.S. for college (n = 127) and again six months after arrival (n = 113; 89% retention). Across time, participants reported lower body esteem, higher emotional eating, and higher BMI, while perceived sociocultural pressures from different sources and internalization of different body ideals remained stable. Acculturative stress was associated with greater muscular-ideal internalization, lower body esteem, and higher uncontrolled eating at follow-up, even after accounting for pre-migration levels. Qualitative analyses provided additional context, with participants describing shifts toward muscular/fit ideals in the U.S. that shaped body image concerns, dissatisfaction with food environments that fueled eating concerns, and other experiences influencing body image and eating behaviors. By integrating quantitative and qualitative evidence, this study contributes to the limited research on international migrants and underscores the associations between acculturation experiences, acculturative stress, body image, and eating. Findings highlight food environments and cultural ideals as complex factors within acculturation and tripartite influence models and point to actionable strategies for policies and interventions supporting international students during cultural transition.

Eating disorders (ED) are most prevalent in women of reproductive age. EDs affect fertility, maternal BMI, and obstetric outcomes. During the early postpartum period, women with an ED history are at high risk for relapse. However, research on the impact of ED on maternal and infant health and development during the first postpartum year is limited. This scoping review provides an overview of the current research on postpartum ED symptoms and their effects on mothers and their babies as well as limitations of current postpartum screening practices. This scoping review was conducted in accordance with JBI Scoping Review Methodology. It included all available English-language literature published between 2000 and January 2025 that was available on PubMed, SCOPUS, and APA PsycInfo electronic databases. We included peer-reviewed empirical manuscripts that measured maternal ED symptoms or diagnoses and that had outcomes on maternal mental health, infant development, or infant feeding interactions during the first year postpartum. Of 332 citations identified in the initial search, 43 articles were included in the review. The majority were conducted in North American and European countries. Several longitudinal studies found an increase in ED symptoms after childbirth, particularly among women with a lifetime history of EDs; compared to women with no history, women with a history of ED symptoms had elevated anxiety and depression during the postpartum period. Findings from studies assessing the relationship between ED history and breastfeeding outcomes were mixed, although infant feeding difficulties appear to be more common in women with a history of ED symptoms. This review provides novel insights into ED symptoms, effects, and care in the postpartum period. Women with ED symptoms are at higher risk for developing mental health conditions during postpartum and are more likely to experience a relapse. These symptoms likely affect the mother-infant feeding relationship. This review also highlighted the lack of research focused on tailored screening and treatment strategies for this population, indicating a need for further research on women with ED symptoms during a critical period.

BackgroundThe ANZAED (Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders) Eating Disorder Credential is the first national, cross-disciplinary program to recognise minimum standards qualifications, knowledge, training, and ongoing professional development for health professionals to provide safe and effective treatment. While timely access to safe and effective treatment is known to improve quality of life and increase the likelihood of optimal treatment outcomes, there is currently no empirical evidence on the Credential’s impact for people with an eating disorder (ED). To address this gap, this study explored the perceptions and treatment experiences of individuals with an ED who received care from a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician.MethodsParticipants were 16 people with lived experience of an ED, who had received treatment from a credentialed clinician. Participants engaged in a semi-structured interview and an online self-report survey, both exploring their ED treatment experiences. Analysis included descriptive statistics from survey data and an inductive reflexive thematic analysis of interview transcripts.ResultsThe first theme generated by the thematic analysis was treatment experiences with credentialed vs. non-credentialed clinicians, with (1) trust and safety, (2) seeing the whole person, and (3) teamwork identified as subthemes. The second theme was attitudes towards the Credential, with (1) the perception of the Credential as a source of hope and (2) the potential for improved access to appropriate treatment as subthemes.ConclusionsParticipants consistently perceived treatment with credentialed clinicians positively and felt that additional training and supervision facilitated trust in credentialed clinicians. Some participants reported their treatment team consisted of credentialed clinicians working together to coordinate treatment, which was also perceived to facilitate trust. However, some participants felt uncertain about whether the Credential met their needs and instead emphasised the importance of treatment access in regional locations and an understanding of individual presentations including comorbid conditions.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40337-026-01529-6.

Eating disorders (EDs) are rising, yet research predominantly focuses on younger women, leaving midlife women understudied. This study examined how emotion dysregulation and body image concerns relate to disordered eating symptoms across emerging adulthood (EA, 18-30 years) and middle adulthood (MA, 45-65 years) and across levels of ED symptom severity. Participants were 1055 women (317 EA lower-symptom-severity, 298 MA lower-symptom-severity, 211 EA higher-symptom-severity, 229 MA higher-symptom-severity). Emotion dysregulation was measured with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-18 (DERS-18), body image concerns with the Body Image Concerns Inventory (BICI), and disordered eating symptoms with the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26). Psychometric analyses, including confirmatory factor analyses and measurement invariance testing are detailed in the Supplemental Materials. Multiple-group structural equation modeling (MGSEM) was conducted to examine whether associations between predictors and outcomes differed by age and symptom severity. Associations varied across age and symptom severity. Difficulties with emotional clarity, impulse control, and appearance dissatisfaction were consistently associated with higher ED symptoms, whereas greater emotional awareness was linked to lower symptoms in some groups. Difficulties with goal-directed behaviors, nonacceptance, limited access to emotion regulation strategies, and social avoidance showed both positive and negative associations depending on age and symptom severity. Findings underscore the need for developmentally informed, transdiagnostic approaches to ED prevention beyond early adulthood. Subscale-level analyses revealed that commonly defined "risk factors" may also be associated with adaptive or protective patterns, highlighting the complexity of these associations across the female lifespan. These insights support more nuanced, strength-based approaches to inform early detection, prevention, and intervention across the ED spectrum.

Eating disorders (ED) and disordered eating behaviours (DEB) in older adults have important implications for physical morbidity and mortality. Thus far, there has been no attempt to systematically evaluate the research landscape of ED and DEB in older adults. A scoping review adhering to PRISMA-ScR reporting standards was conducted. We searched MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO (2000-2025) for English-language, peer-reviewed articles on ED/DEB in older adults covering diagnosis, epidemiology, determinants, clinical features, progression, or treatment, in any setting. A total of 53 publications were included in the final review, comprising four systematic reviews, five longitudinal studies, and 44 cross-sectional studies. All original studies were observational in design. Research was predominantly community-based and relied on single-step screening, limiting diagnostic validity. Healthcare facility-based studies have examined ED in patients with comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, and those undergoing bariatric surgery. Most study participants were Caucasian, with limited representation from minority groups. ED in older adults were mostly in women, with presentations characterised by dietary restriction, binge-purge behaviours, and body image preoccupation. The data on prevalence of subtypes of ED was variably reported. Most late-onset cases were precipitated by psychosocial stressors such as bereavement, caregiving responsibilities, or social isolation. Biological factors, particularly menopausal age in women, were found to be associated with an increased prevalence of DEBs, such as binge eating and restrictive eating patterns. Comorbid depression, anxiety, and medical conditions were frequent. Combined behavioural and pharmacological interventions offered better outcomes. Poorer outcomes were linked to chronicity, low body mass index, presence of comorbidities, and poor treatment engagement. Protective factors, including cognitive adaptation and positive attitudes toward ageing, may confer resilience. ED and DEB in older adults are a significant but underrecognized public health issue. Existing research is constrained by limited diversity, Western-centric samples, and reliance on self-reported measures, underscoring the urgent need for inclusive, longitudinal, and interventional studies that better capture biopsychosocial determinants of EDs and DEBs, while also promoting the provision of age-sensitive care.

Many researchers have expressed concerns that weight stigma may cause adverse health effects and worsen weight issues in a vicious cycle. However, empirical evidence evaluating this cycle is scarce, especially among Eastern Asians. The present study investigated the temporal associations among perceived weight stigma, weight-related self-stigma, psychological distress, perceived behavioral control, physical activity, eating behaviors, and body mass index (BMI) changes. A one-year longitudinal survey was carried out to explore if the weight cycle exists among young adults in Hong Kong. The study comprised 345 participants at Time 1 (T1), 253 participants at T2, 233 participants at T3, and 235 participants at T4. Participants completed self-reported psychometric instruments in an online survey. The analysis employed parallel process latent growth curve modeling and a random intercept cross-lagged panel model. Temporal relationships existed in the connections between perceived stigma and self-stigma, and self-stigma and perceived behavioral control. A negative relationship between self-stigma and future BMI was found, whereas future self-stigma showed no significant association with previous BMI. The growth trajectories of the studied variables did not correlate with changes in BMI. However, self-stigma showed a negative association with subsequent BMI in a different model. Further research is needed to clarify whether weight stigma is impacted by changes in BMI.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is the most prevalent eating disorder and is associated with psychiatric comorbidities, health impairments, and decreased quality of life. Emerging evidence suggests that psilocybin-assisted therapy may promote cognitive and emotional flexibility and disrupt maladaptive behavioral patterns, making it a promising candidate for BED treatment. This open-label pilot study evaluated the feasibility, safety, and preliminary therapeutic effects of a single 25mg dose of psilocybin administered in the context of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based psychotherapy in adults with BED (N = 5). Primary outcomes included safety measures, and exploratory outcomes included self-reported binge eating frequency, depression, anxiety, psychological flexibility, anthropometric indices, and neuroimaging biomarkers assessed over a 14-week follow-up. Psilocybin was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events. Reductions in self-reported binge eating frequency were observed across all participants and sustained through week 14. Improvements were also noted in depression, anxiety, and psychological inflexibility. Three participants showed reductions in body mass index and waist circumference. Given the open label design and small sample size, causality cannot be inferred. fMRI analyses generated preliminary signals of change-such as increased functional activation from pre- to post-intervention in the middle frontal gyrus, angular gyrus, and supramarginal gyrus in response to processed versus unprocessed food cues. Psilocybin-assisted therapy was feasible and well-tolerated in individuals with BED. The clinical and neurobiological observations provide directions for future adequately powered trials.

BackgroundPatients with eating disorders (EDs), particularly anorexia nervosa (AN), experience a complex psychiatric condition often characterized by extreme food restriction, intense fear of weight gain, elevated levels of emotional dysregulation, body image disturbance, and comorbid trauma. Several of these factors can undermine the therapeutic alliance and reduce engagement with treatment, contributing to poorer outcomes. MDMA, a non-classical psychedelic, is being explored as a novel PTSD treatment adjuvans due to its ability to rapidly reduce trauma symptoms and enhance therapeutic alliance. Recent clinical trials and regulatory considerations, as highlighted in emerging research, are shaping its potential therapeutic role, and MDMA may offer a unique mechanism to disrupt maladaptive neural circuits, enhance cognitive flexibility, and facilitate emotional processing in EDs.ObjectiveTo comprehensively evaluate the potential of MDMA-assisted therapy for EDs with a particular focus on the distinct neurobiological and psychological profiles of AN and comorbid PTSD.MethodsThis paper synthesizes current research literature on MDMA, PTSD, and EDs, with an emphasis on clinical trial outcomes, neurobiological mechanisms, and therapeutic frameworks. Both pharmacological and psychotherapeutic components of MDMA-AT are reviewed.ResultsNo clinical trials of MDMA-AT have been conducted in ED populations to date. Findings from clinical trials in patients with PTSD suggest that MDMA’s pro-social and fear-reducing and neuroplastic properties may enhance emotional processing, therapeutic alliance, and cognitive flexibility - key factors that often hinder eating disorder treatment. The ability of MDMA to increase emotional openness, reduce fear responses, and promote cognitive flexibility could support deeper engagement with the therapeutic process and improve treatment outcomes in EDs with comorbid trauma.ConclusionsThe current evidence base suggests that MDMA-AT may hold promise as an adjunctive treatment for EDs echoing its demonstrated therapeutic potential in PTSD. By facilitating deeper emotional processing, enhancing patient-therapist attunement, and fostering openness to change, MDMA may help overcome avoidance, cognitive rigidity, and therapeutic impasses that often hinder progress in EDs. Its integration into clinical practice will require rigorous validation through well powered trials, alongside careful ethical and regulatory oversight, and integration into multidisciplinary treatment frameworks. Tailored dosing, patient selection, and therapist training will be essential for safe and effective implementation. Further research is warranted to fully explore this potential application.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40337-025-01409-5.