Prevalence and Correlates of Loss of Control Eating among Adults Presenting for Methadone Maintenance Treatment.
BACKGROUND
Research suggests that substance use disorders and disordered eating are often comorbid. In light of the ongoing opioid epidemic, the purpose of the current study was to understand the prevalence and health-related correlates of loss of control (LOC) eating in adults seeking methadone maintenance treatment primarily for addiction to heroin and/or painkillers.


METHODS
Participants were 447 adults surveyed at presentation for methadone maintenance treatment who responded to survey items on LOC eating. Descriptive statistics were used to investigate the prevalence of engaging in LOC eating in the past 2 weeks. Chi-square tests, t tests, and analyses of covariance were used to compare individuals with (LOC+; n = 164) and without (LOC-; n = 283) recent LOC eating on psychosocial, pain-related, and weight-related characteristics.


RESULTS
Approximately one third of respondents endorsed LOC eating in the past 2 weeks. These participants reported greater affective symptoms, interpersonal dysfunction, pain intensity, and pain interference than the LOC- group (Cohen's d effect size range = .24-.94). LOC+ was also more likely to have engaged in recent illicit drug use and to report having concurrent overweight/obesity (φ effect size range = .09-.10).


CONCLUSION
The prevalence of LOC eating in adults seeking methadone maintenance treatment was more than triple what has been reported in previous studies using community samples. Given its associations with other health-related variables, the presence of LOC eating may be a marker for more severe psychopathology in individuals seeking methadone maintenance treatment. Future research is needed to understand mechanisms explaining this comorbidity and to develop novel ways to prevent and treat their co-occurrence.
['Goldschmidt|Andrea B|AB|http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1620-8300', 'Cotton|Brandi P|BP|', 'Mackey|Scott|S|', 'Laurent|Jennifer|J|', 'Bryson|William C|WC|', 'Bond|Dale S|DS|']
D000328:Adult D015897:Comorbidity D004435:Eating D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008691:Methadone D008875:Middle Aged D009765:Obesity D050177:Overweight D010146:Pain D015995:Prevalence D019966:Substance-Related Disorders D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Loss of control eating Methadone Substance use disorders Pain Binge eating Opioid use disorders