Functions of disordered eating behaviors: a qualitative analysis of the lived experience and clinician perspectives

Abbigail Kinnear; Jaclyn A Siegel; Philip C Masson; Lindsay P Bodell

doi:10.1186/s40337-023-00854-4

Functions of disordered eating behaviors: a qualitative analysis of the lived experience and clinician perspectives

J Eat Disord. 2023 Aug 21;11(1):141. doi: 10.1186/s40337-023-00854-4.

Authors

Abbigail Kinnear¹, Jaclyn A Siegel^{1

2}, Philip C Masson¹, Lindsay P Bodell³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
² Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
³ Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. lbodell@uwo.ca.

Abstract

Background: One method to improve treatment outcomes for individuals with eating disorders (EDs) may be understanding and targeting individuals' motives for engaging in DE behaviors-or the functions of DE behaviors. The goal of this study was to investigate and categorize the various functions of DE behaviors from the perspectives of adults who engage in DE behaviors and clinicians who treat EDs.

Methods: Individuals who engage in DE behaviors (n = 16) and clinicians who treat EDs (n = 14) were interviewed, and a thematic analysis was conducted to determine key functions of DE behaviors.

Results: Four main functions of DE behaviors were identified by the authors: (1) alleviating shape, weight, and eating concerns; (2) regulating emotions; (3) regulating one's self-concept; and (4) regulating interpersonal relationships/communicating with others.

Conclusions: Differences in participant responses, particularly regarding the relevance of alleviating shape and weight concerns as an DE behavior function, highlight the importance of individualized conceptualizations of DE behavior functions for any given client.

Keywords: Binge eating; Clinicians; Eating disorders; Functions; Purging; Restricting; Thematic analysis.

Plain language summary

There are many reasons why individuals engage in disordered eating (DE) behaviors, and gathering information on these functions of one’s DE behaviors might help clinicians decide which treatments to administer to individual clients. This study identified and organized numerous functions of DE behaviors based on perspectives of both adults who engage in DE behaviors and clinicians who treat EDs. These functions can be largely grouped into four categories: (1) reducing concerns about one’s shape, weight, and/or eating habits; (2) managing one’s emotions; (3) managing one’s beliefs about themselves as a person; and (4) managing relationships with others or communicating with others. Using treatments that address these reasons for one’s DE behaviors may be beneficial for clients.

Grants and funding

ROLA account number: 0000044975/Western University