USPSTF: New Recommendations on Screening for Eating Disorders

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has released a recommendation statement on screening for eating disorders, including binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa, in adolescents and adults. The USPSTF has not previously made a recommendation on this topic.

Researchers conducted a systematic review of 17 studies. Included were individuals aged 10 years or older with normal or high BMI. All included participants were asymptomatic, without rapid weight loss, weight gain, pronounced deviation from growth trajectory, pubertal delay, bradycardia, oligomenorrhea, or amenorrhea.

Results of the review indicate there is insufficient evidence to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for eating disorders in this patient population (I statement).

Clinicians are encouraged to consider potential preventable burden, potential harms, current practice, and assessment of risk in determining whether to screen their patients.

—Leigh Precopio

Reference:

US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for eating disorders in adolescents and adults: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2022;327(11):1061-1067. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.1806