Oral Presentation Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Annual Scientific Conference 2026

Identifying eating disorders in people seeking obesity treatment: development of a clinical practice resource (143216)

Eve T House 1 2 , Shirley Alexander 3 , Evan Atlantis 4 , Leah Brennan 5 , Tracy Burrows 6 , Xochitl de la Piedad Garcia 7 , Phillipa Hay 8 9 , Samantha Hocking 10 11 , Lisa Moran 12 , Kylie Murphy 13 , Milan Piya 14 15 , Priya Sumithran 16 17 , Kathryn Williams 18 19 20 , Sarah Trobe 21 , Hiba Jebeile 1 2 , on behalf of the EDIT & NEDC Screening and Assessment Working Group 1 21
  1. Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
  2. Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. Weight Management Services, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
  4. School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
  5. School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Wodonga, Victoria, Australia
  6. College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
  7. Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  8. Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
  9. Mental Health Services, Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
  10. Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  11. Department of Endocrinology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  12. Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
  13. KDM Psychology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  14. School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
  15. South Western Sydney Metabolic Rehabilitation and Bariatric Program, Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Camden, NSW, Australia
  16. School of Translational Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  17. Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Bayside Health (Alfred Care Group), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  18. Nepean Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Kingswood, NSW, Australia
  19. Charles Perkins Centre Nepean, The University of Sydney, Kingswood, NSW, Australia
  20. Department of Endocrinology, Nepean Hospital, Kingswood, NSW, Australia
  21. National Eating Disorder Collaboration, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Up to 14% of adults presenting for obesity treatment have an eating disorder (ED) and almost 30% of people receiving ED treatment have a history of obesity (1, 2). Early identification of ED can improve ED and obesity treatment outcomes (3, 4). A 2024 Australian roundtable convened by the EDIT Collaboration and National Eating Disorder Collaboration (NEDC), identified priorities to improve prevention, identification, and management of ED in people with higher weight (5). One priority was improved ED screening and assessment for this population. A working group of clinicians, researchers and lived experience experts was established to address this priority. The group aimed to develop a clinical practice resource regarding ED screening, assessment, and monitoring during obesity treatment. Drawing on NEDC clinical practice guidelines, reviews of ED screening and assessment questionnaire diagnostic accuracy in adolescents and adults with overweight and obesity, and expert consensus, a clinical practice resource was developed. The resource outlines the evidence for the use of validated screening (e.g. Eating Disorder Screen for Primary Care) and assessment (e.g. Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire) questionnaires in obesity treatment. Routine screening using structured questionnaires and open-ended questions during the clinical assessment are recommended when people present for obesity treatment. Recommendations are provided for ongoing monitoring for the emergence and/or exacerbation of ED symptoms throughout care, including clinical, behavioural, and psychological signs and symptoms of ED risk. The resource outlines additional considerations for ED identification in specific populations, including adolescents, males and gender diverse people, First Nations, and culturally and linguistically diverse populations. The resource highlights the limited evidence base to inform ED screening and assessment in obesity treatment, emphasising the importance of ongoing research in this area, while also offering practical recommendations to support consistent integration of ED screening and assessment in obesity care based on the best available evidence.

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