Pediatric Disordered Eating Behaviors: A Call for a New Screening Tool for Primary Care

Abstract

Eating disorders in adolescents are increasing in prevalence in the US. This article details the distinction between disordered eating and eating disorders and the importance of detecting all disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. It explores factors contributing to the underdiagnosis of disordered eating behaviors. It describes the importance of disordered eating and eating disorder screening, outlines several of the most widely used screening tools, and addresses the applications and limitations of each. There is currently no brief screening tool for the diagnosis of both broad-spectrum eating disorders and sub-threshold disordered eating pathology in pediatric populations as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. This article highlights the need for screening both disordered eating and eating disorders in the pediatric primary care setting. It explores possible solutions including a discussion of several new screening tools that have shown promise in specific populations. This article aims to serve as a call to action for the validation of such a screener in the general pediatric population.