Classifying binge eating-disordered adolescents based on severity levels

The new severity criterion for binge-eating disorder (BED), introduced by the most recent (fifth)
edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a means of
addressing within-group variability in severity, was tested in 223 Italian (13-18-year-old) adolescents
(86.1% females) with (DSM-5) BED presenting for treatment. Analyses revealed that
participants classified with mild (35.9% of the sample), moderate (38.1%) severe (13.4%), and
extreme (12.6%) severity of BED, based on their clinician-rated weekly frequency of binge-eating
(BE) episodes, were statistically distinguishable in physical characteristics (body mass index) and
a range of clinical variables regarding eating-related psychopathology and putative maintenance
factors, health-related quality of life, and mood and anxiety disorder comorbidity (medium-tolarge
effect sizes). Between-group differences in age-at-onset of BED or demographics were not
detected. The findings provide support for the utility of BE frequency as a severity criterion for
BED in adolescence. Implications for future studies are discussed