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Eating Disorders: Current Epidemiology and Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment—Second Edition

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 1571

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Arthur Eumann Mesas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Nutrition and Dietetics, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca, Spain
Interests: nutrition; sleep; lifestyle; mental health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is our pleasure to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue entitled "Eating Disorders: Current Epidemiology and Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment—Second Edition". This is a new volume; for more details on the first volume, please visit https://www.mdpi.com/journal/jcm/special_issues/BM4H2J13YN.

Eating disorders (EDs), including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, are well-recognized clinical conditions. However, the causes of these disorders, their impacts on individuals and families, and the burden they place on healthcare systems continue to present significant challenges for researchers, clinicians, and public health professionals.

Building on the success of the first edition, this second edition broadens its scope to include systematic reviews and original data analyses that examine comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives, validated screening tools for early detection, and evaluations of non-pharmacological and pharmacological prevention and treatment strategies for EDs.

In addition to welcoming new contributions from authors who missed the deadline for the first edition, we encourage submissions examining the associations between eating disorders (EDs) or disordered eating symptoms and unhealthy behaviors (e.g., poor diet, physical inactivity, and substance use) or comorbidities (e.g., mental health disorders, metabolic conditions, and physical health problems). Submissions that explore moderating factors related to EDs, such as gender, age, socioeconomic status, or migration background, are also highly encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Arthur Eumann Mesas
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • eating disorder
  • bulimia nervosa
  • anorexia nervosa
  • binge eating disorder
  • sociocultural context
  • epidemiology
  • di-agnosis
  • treatment
  • prevention

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 753 KiB  
Article
Reducing State and Trait Anxiety Through Art Therapy in Adolescents with Eating Disorders: Results from a Pilot Repeated-Measures Study
by Francesco Monaco, Annarita Vignapiano, Stefania Landi, Ernesta Panarello, Benedetta Di Gruttola, Naomi Gammella, Silvia Adiutori, Eleonora Acierno, Valeria Di Stefano, Ilaria Pullano, Giulio Corrivetti and Luca Steardo Jr
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(15), 5298; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14155298 - 27 Jul 2025
Viewed by 499
Abstract
Background: Art therapy is increasingly recognized as a valuable complementary intervention for individuals with eating disorders (EDs), who frequently experience comorbid anxiety and difficulties with emotional regulation. However, few studies have examined its short-term effects on state and trait anxiety within structured clinical [...] Read more.
Background: Art therapy is increasingly recognized as a valuable complementary intervention for individuals with eating disorders (EDs), who frequently experience comorbid anxiety and difficulties with emotional regulation. However, few studies have examined its short-term effects on state and trait anxiety within structured clinical settings. Methods: This pilot study involved 19 adolescent females (mean age 17.7 ± 2.1 years) diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN) and admitted to the Mariconda Regional Residence for Eating Disorders (ASL Salerno, Italy) in residential or semi-residential treatment. Participants completed a structured six-week cycle of weekly textile-based art therapy sessions, designed to promote emotional expression and body reconnection. State and trait anxiety levels were assessed pre- and post-session using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze state anxiety changes; a linear mixed-effects model was applied to trait anxiety. Results: State anxiety significantly decreased immediately after sessions (p = 0.002). A significant main effect of session (p = 0.01) and a time × session interaction (p = 0.025) indicated variability across sessions. Trait anxiety showed a non-significant trend toward reduction (p = 0.11); however, reductions were significant at sessions 4 (p = 0.015), 5 (p < 0.001), and 6 (p = 0.005). Conclusions: Art therapy may offer immediate reductions in state anxiety and may contribute to a longer-term reduction in trait anxiety with 4–6 sessions. These findings support integrating creative interventions within multidisciplinary ED treatment programs. Future research with larger samples and control groups is needed to confirm and expand upon these preliminary results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eating Disorders: Current Epidemiology and Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment—Second Edition)
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13 pages, 248 KiB  
Article
Negative Weight Attitudes and Disordered Eating Behaviors in Hispanic Adolescents: A Descriptive Study of Gender and Weight Status Associations
by Tabbetha D. Lopez, Aliye B. Cepni, Katherine R. Hendel, Lenora P. Goodman, Margit Wiesner, Craig A. Johnston, Kevin Haubrick and Tracey A. Ledoux
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(15), 5211; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14155211 - 23 Jul 2025
Viewed by 357
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Hispanic adolescents experience elevated rates of disordered eating behaviors and body dissatisfaction, yet limited research has examined how gender and weight status interact to shape these risks within this population. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 680 Hispanic adolescents [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Hispanic adolescents experience elevated rates of disordered eating behaviors and body dissatisfaction, yet limited research has examined how gender and weight status interact to shape these risks within this population. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 680 Hispanic adolescents (ages 9–15) from a predominantly Mexican-American middle school. Participants completed the Modified Kids Eating Disorder Survey (M-KEDS), and height and weight were objectively measured to determine BMI-for-age percentile. Chi-square tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, and logistic regression were used to assess differences by gender and weight status, including interaction effects. Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparisons. Effect sizes (Cramér’s V, odds ratios with 95% CI) were reported. Results: Approximately 73% of participants reported body dissatisfaction, with significant differences observed by gender and weight status. Adolescents with overweight/obesity reported significantly higher negative weight attitudes and extreme weight control behaviors than healthy-weight peers (p < 0.001), with large effect sizes. Females endorsed more disordered attitudes and behaviors, except for exercise to lose weight, which was more common among overweight/obese males. Conclusions: These findings underscore the high prevalence and significance of disordered eating behaviors in Hispanic adolescents, including those at a healthy weight. Results highlight the importance of culturally tailored, gender-sensitive screening and prevention strategies. Schools serve as critical settings for early identification, and tools like the M-KEDS can help address disparities in care access and improve outcomes among Hispanic youth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eating Disorders: Current Epidemiology and Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment—Second Edition)
12 pages, 289 KiB  
Article
Cross-Sectional Associations Between Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms and Disordered Eating Behaviors by Sex in University Students
by Ana Ballesta-Castillejos, Valentina Díaz-Goñi, Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni, Estela Jiménez-López, José Francisco López-Gil, Isabel Antonia Martínez-Ortega, Arthur E. Mesas and Miriam Garrido-Miguel
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(13), 4611; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14134611 - 29 Jun 2025
Viewed by 555
Abstract
Depressive and anxiety symptoms are associated with a greater likelihood of disordered eating behaviors (DEBs), but the role of sex in these associations is unclear. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the associations between depression, anxiety, and DEBs in [...] Read more.
Depressive and anxiety symptoms are associated with a greater likelihood of disordered eating behaviors (DEBs), but the role of sex in these associations is unclear. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the associations between depression, anxiety, and DEBs in a sample of Spanish university students. Methods: Depression was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), anxiety with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) instrument, and DEBs with the Sick, Control, One stone, Fat, Food (SCOFF) questionnaire. Statistical analyses included generalized linear regression models adjusted for sociodemographic, body composition, and lifestyle covariates as the main confounders. Results: Among the 453 students analyzed (71.5% female), the frequencies of mild-to-severe depression, mild-to-severe anxiety, and of DEBs were higher in the females (42.0%, 77.5%, and 32.7%, respectively) than in the males (24.0%, 52.7%, and 20.2%, respectively). The results of the adjusted GLMs were similar for both the sexes, indicating higher estimated marginal means of the SCOFF total score and greater odds of DEBs among those with mild-to-severe depression or anxiety than among those without these conditions. Conclusions: Depression and anxiety symptoms are cross-sectionally associated with DEBs in Spanish university students of both sexes. Future prospective studies are needed to examine the direction of these associations separately for females and males. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eating Disorders: Current Epidemiology and Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment—Second Edition)
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