A Prospective Study of Loss of Control Eating for Body Weight Gain in Children at High Risk for Adult Obesity

Objective: Limited data suggest that disordered-eating may predispose children to excessive weight gain. We investigated the relationship between baseline responses to the Eating Disorder Examination adapted for Children (ChEDE) and change in BMI (kg/m(2)) in children at high risk for adult obesity. Method: Children (6-12 years) were administered the ChEDE to assess loss of control (LOC) eating, dietary restraint, and eating, shape, and weight concern. Height and weight were measured at baseline and annually. Results: Between July, 1999, and August, 2007, 772 measurements were obtained from 143 children over 4.5 +/- 1.9 years. LOC eating predicted an increased rate of BMI growth over time (p =.02). Compared with children without LOC, those reporting LOC gained an additional mean 2.4 kg of weight per year. Conclusion: LOC is a salient predictor of weight gain during middle childhood. Interventions that decrease LOC eating should be evaluated for their ability to prevent excessive pediatric weight gain. (C) 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.