Characterization of eating patterns among individuals with eating disorders: what is the state of the plate?

Eating disorders will affect approximately 18 million individuals in the United States at some point in their lives, and are associated with significant psychological distress, psychosocial and quality-of-life impairment, medical morbidity, and mortality. Although aberrant eating behaviors play a central role in diagnostic definitions for eating disorders, much remains to be learned about eating patterns, diet quality, and energy balance among individuals with eating pathology. The goal of the current paper was to systematically review and integrate findings from published research studies characterizing the eating behaviors of individuals with eating disorders, including findings from both descriptive and laboratory-based research. We also describe results from studies using ecological momentary assessment - a methodology that assesses individuals' behaviors in their natural environment as they occur, which may reduce retrospective recall bias, and provide improved ability to prospectively assess the temporal occur of changes in multiple eating behaviors over time. We conclude with suggestions for future research, including the need for additional studies to test for differences in eating patterns among different demographic groups of individuals with eating disorders, and the need for new, more objective, assessment tools.