Despite the high prevalence of eating and weight disorders, and the availability of evidence-based treatments for adults, available therapeutic strategies for these disorders lack a good evidence-base in children and adolescents. Moreover, despite the importance of targeting weight in eating disorder treatment, the two fields have traditionally not relied on cross-fertilization. This symposium will focus on novel approaches and treatment evidence that cut across eating and weight disorders. New considerations on the importance of weight (across its spectrum from high to low) in eating disorders and development of new treatment approaches that target both eating and weight disorders will be presented. Speakers will present novel empirical findings and will discuss treatment implications.
Dr Haas will conduct an international comparison of clinical trials of anorexia nervosa, with a focus on the role of body weight at baseline, end of treatment and follow-up. Dr Muhlig will present evidence on the effect of weight loss programs for children and adolescents with obesity and focus on the implications of the small effect sizes. Dr Haycraft will discuss her research on childhood feeding problems and present the development of a digital resource to help parents target problematic feeding and eating behaviours. Dr Lindvall Dahlgren will present data on the use of cognitive remediation therapy in eating and weight disorders.
This symposium will provide new knowledge and understanding of treatment approaches that cut across eating and weight disorders; and that target weight. As such this symposium will be suitable for both clinicians and researchers in the field of eating, weight disorders as well as other fields.