A systematic mapping review of individual participant factors related to eating disorder risk collected in behavioural weight management trials.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify which factors potentially relevant to eating disorder risk were collected by trials included in the Eating Disorders In weight-related Therapy (EDIT) Collaboration.

METHODS

Databases were systematically searched to March 2022, and clinical trial registries to May 2022, to identify behavioural weight management randomised controlled trials assessing eating disorder risk in adolescents (10-18 years) and adults (≥ 19 years) with overweight/obesity. Individual participant data were requested from eligible trials across 11 domains (demographics, anthropometry, medical history, history of dieting and weight loss attempts, mental health, personality, psychosocial health, sleep quality, weight stigma, eating behaviours, cardiometabolic health), including 58 participant factors identified through a consensus study as relevant to eating disorder risk. Trial data were mapped and summarised descriptively.

RESULTS

We identified 106 eligible trials, of which 46 (20 adolescent, 26 adult) individual participant datasets were provided. Adolescent and adult datasets both included factors across a median (range) of 6 (4-9) domains. There was broad coverage across demographics, medical history, anthropometry, mental health, psychosocial health, and eating behaviours, where each domain was included in > 50% of datasets. Each of the remaining domains were included in ≤ 50% of datasets.

CONCLUSION

Trials collected many diverse factors potentially relevant to eating disorder risk. Further exploration is needed within underrepresented domains, such as weight stigma, to better understand their contribution to eating disorder risk within behavioural weight management.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, Opinions of respected authorities, based on descriptive studies, narrative reviews, clinical experience, or reports of expert committees.