Food Insecurity and Eating Disorders: a Review of Emerging Evidence

Vivienne M. Hazzard, Katie A. Loth, Laura Hooper, Carolyn Black Becker

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

131 Scopus citations

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarizes emerging evidence for the relationship between food insecurity and eating disorder (ED) pathology, outlines priorities for future research in this area, and comments on considerations for clinical and public health practice.

RECENT FINDINGS: Among adults, food insecurity is cross-sectionally associated with higher levels of overall ED pathology, binge eating, compensatory behaviors, binge-eating disorder, and bulimia nervosa. Evidence for similar relationships among adolescents has been less robust; however, compared to studies of adults, there have been substantially fewer studies conducted in adolescents to date. Emerging evidence consistently indicates that food insecurity is cross-sectionally associated with bulimic-spectrum ED pathology among adults. Findings emphasize the need for ED research to include marginalized populations who have historically been overlooked in the ED field. Much more research is needed to better understand the relationship between food insecurity and ED pathology and to determine effective ways to intervene.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number74
JournalCurrent psychiatry reports
Volume22
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 30 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Keywords

  • Disordered eating
  • Eating disorders
  • Food insecurity
  • Health inequities
  • Marginalized populations
  • Social determinants of health

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