Katarina Prnjak

Transdiagnostic screening tools (e.g., MINI-KID) are beneficial in detecting risk factors for a range of mental health problems in children; yet no research has explored how effective these tools are in detecting eating disorders (EDs). The aim of this review was to synthesise evidence on the discriminative power of transdiagnostic screening tools for identifying EDs among children aged 5–12. The review was pre-registered on PROSPERO; PRISMA guidelines were followed. PsycINFO and Medline were searched for peer-reviewed studies that used validated transdiagnostic mental health screening tools and reported on psychometric properties in children with an ED, published up until April 2025. Seven studies met inclusion criteria. Psychometric properties of the screening tools ranged from weak to excellent, with sensitivity for detecting EDs being less than acceptable (i.e., <80%) for 6 of the 7 tools identified in this review. Not all metrics of discriminative power were reported for 7 tools, and in most studies the number of children with an ED was too small to have reliable results. This suggests that existing transdiagnostic tools are not capturing EDs well, and that more effort is needed to establish comprehensive screening processes that will accurately identify children at high risk for developing EDs.

Objective: A larger number of younger children are being diagnosed with an eating disorder (ED), with parents typically reporting a delay between early warning signs (EWS) and seeking help. The aim of the current investigation was to identify the common EWS for EDs in children noticed by caregivers and consumers as reported on websites to inform earlier detection and intervention.Method: A realist synthesis of websites summarizing caregiver and consumer perspectives on the EWS for EDs in children was conducted by searching Google, Bing, and Yahoo! for all years covered through 24 October 2023.Results: The initial search identified 140 websites, of which 62 met criteria for eligibility (93.5% summarized content targeted at caregivers, 6.5% included direct perspectives). Six categories and 24 sub‐categories of EWS were identified across 214 individual EWS. The most common EWS, mentioned in at least 40% of websites, were: excessive or compulsive exercise, any weight loss, obsession or preoccupation with food or food preparation, and cutting out major food groups.Discussion: This web synthesis identified the EWS of developing EDs in children most reported by caregivers and consumers; however, many of the websites contained subjective interpretations of people's experiences which were unverified and may capture potential bias. Future prospective research is required to verify caregiver and consumer experiences and to explore whether these EWS are predictive of ED onset. These results can then inform early detection strategies for EDs and may assist caregivers in recognizing when clinical assessment for an ED is required.

Background: Elite athletes experience unique pressures and cognitions associated with disordered eating, which may not be appropriately captured by existing tools. The Athletic Disordered Eating (ADE) scale is a recently developed and first measure of disordered eating specifically developed and validated in current and former athletes. This study aimed to provide further validation for the ADE in an independent sample of elite athletes.Method: Participants were 237 elite athletes (M _Age = 26.1, SD_Age = 8.6; 75.9% female; 73.0% current athletes) participating in various sports across Australia and the United States. Participants completed an online survey including the ADE, demographic questions, and other measures of eating disorder symptoms (Eating Disorder Examination—Questionnaire Short‐form, Clinical Impairment Assessment), and related constructs. Twenty‐five athletes also completed a clinical interview to determine eating disorder caseness.Results: The four‐factor structure of the ADE from the original validation was confirmed. Further, the ADE demonstrated adequate measurement invariance across male and female current and former athletes; internal consistency for the total score and each subscale; convergent and discriminant validity; and criterion‐related validity—with a score of 40 balancing sensitivity and specificity against other scales with established cut‐offs for a likely eating disorder. The high‐risk cut‐off (ADE ≥ 33) had high sensitivity but low specificity in identifying eating disorder cases, as confirmed by the clinical interview.Discussion: The ADE is a low‐time‐burden screening tool for disordered eating, validated in independent samples of diverse athletes. It should be considered for future use in screening, early identification, and monitoring treatment progress in elite athletes.

Specific facets of body image disturbance have an important role in eating disorder (ED) onset and maintenance yet have been assessed with single items and/or questionnaires predominantly developed in female samples to capture desire for a thinner body. The aim of this multipart study was to develop the multifaceted instrument for body image disturbance (MI-BoD) that will assess body image disturbance across gender and body size. In Study 1, interviews were conducted with 31 ED lived experience experts (45% females) to develop an initial item pool which was then rated for relevance and clarity by 59 international field experts, shortened and refined by the research team, and then rerated by 20 field experts and 91 ED lived experience experts. Of the 477 items developed from interviews, 46 were retained for the initial validation study. In Study 2, the MI-BoD was administered to undergraduate students (N = 937; 84% females), community adolescents (N = 208; 58% females), and individuals with self-reported ED diagnosis (N = 410; 77% females) to assess its preliminary psychometric properties. Exploratory factor analysis revealed six underlying factors, namely, Dissatisfaction, Overvaluation, Preoccupation, Fear of Weight Gain, Body Checking, and Body Exposure. No differential item functioning was detected for most MI-BoD items across gender, weight status, and ED status (symptomatic vs. asymptomatic). Overall, the MI-BoD showed good internal consistency, convergent and divergent validity, concurrent validity, and test-retest reliability. In conclusion, the MI-BoD is a promising tool for assessment of important facets of body image disturbance across gender, body size, and ED symptomatology. Public Significance Statement This study developed and validated a new self-report instrument for assessment of body image disturbance relevant for eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia. This instrument assesses six specific facets of body image disturbance-Dissatisfaction, Overvaluation, Preoccupation, Fear of Weight Gain, Body Checking, Body Exposure-and has shown good psychometric properties in two independent samples.

Establishing a relationship between repetitions left in reserve and the mean absolute velocity (RIR‐velocity relationship) during resistance training (RT) could allow for objective monitoring, prescription, and real‐time adjustment of the training load and set‐volume. Therefore, we examined the goodness of fit and prediction accuracy of general and individual RIR‐velocity relationships in the free‐weight back squat exercise. The effects of sex, training status and history, as well as personality traits, on the goodness of fit and the accuracy of these relationships were also investigated. Forty‐six resistance‐trained people (15 females and 31 males) performed a one‐repetition maximum (1RM) test, and two repetitions to failure (RTF) tests 72 h apart. We found greater goodness of fit of individual RIR‐velocity relationships compared to general RIR‐velocity relationships. Individual, but not general RIR‐velocity relationships established in the first testing session yielded acceptable prediction accuracy of RIR (mean error <2 repetitions) in the subsequent testing session, regardless of the load used. Similar results were obtained when both general and individual RIR‐velocity relationships were averaged across the loads, suggesting that a single RIR‐velocity relationship covering a range of loads can be used instead of traditional RT methods, potentially allowing for better fatigue management and more efficient adaptation.

Purpose: This study aimed to quantify the potential variability in the volume of work completed after reaching different velocity loss (VL) thresholds and determine the effects of sex, training status and history, as well as psychological traits on the reliability and magnitude of the amount of work completed after reaching different VL thresholds using different loads in the back-squat exercise. Methods: Forty-six resistance-trained people (15 females and 31 males; 18 to 40 years of age) with a wide range of strength levels, training experience, and different training practices were recruited and performed a one-repetition maximum (1RM) test, and two repetitions to failure (RTF) tests 72 h apart. RTF tests were performed with 70, 80, and 90% of 1RM with 10 min of rest between sets. The Bland–Altman analysis for multiple observations per participant and equivalence tests were used to quantify the variability in the volume of work completed after reaching different VL thresholds, whereas linear and generalised mixed-effects models were used to examine the effects of different moderators on the stability and magnitude of the amount of work completed after reaching different VL thresholds. Results: The findings of the present study question the utility of using VL thresholds to prescribe resistance training (RT) volume as the agreement in the amount of work completed across two consecutive testing sessions was not acceptable. Regardless of the load used, females completed more repetitions than males across VL thresholds, while males performed repetitions at higher velocities. In addition, individuals with higher levels of emotional stability also tended to perform more repetitions across VL thresholds. Finally, sex, choice of load, strength levels and training practices, as well as emotional stability affected the linearity of the repetition–velocity relationship and when sets terminated. Conclusion: Using the same VL thresholds for all individuals, while assuming generalisability of the stimuli applied, would likely lead to variable acute physiological responses to RT and divergent neuromuscular adaptations over long term. Therefore, VL monitoring practices could be improved by considering sex, training status, history, and psychological traits of individuals due to their effects on the variability in responses to different VL thresholds.

This study examined the reproducibility of GymAware, PUSH2 and Vmaxpro velocity monitoring devices during resistance training (RT). The sensitivity of these devices to detect the smallest changes in velocity that correspond to true changes in RT performance was also investigated. Fifty-one resistance-trained men and women performed an incremental loading (1RM) test, and two repetitions to failure tests with different loads, 72 h apart. During all repetitions, mean velocity (MV) and peak velocity (PV) were simultaneously recorded by two devices of each brand. Overall, GymAware was the most reliable and sensitive device for detecting the smallest changes in RT performance, regardless of the velocity metric used. Vmaxpro can be considered as an equivalent, cheaper alternative to GymAware for RT monitoring and prescription, but only if the MV metric is used. Caution should be exercised when using PUSH2 in practice due to their comparatively higher, unacceptable measurement error and generally low sensitivity to detect changes in RT performance. Collectively, these findings support the use of MV and PV from GymAware and MV from Vmaxpro devices for RT monitoring and prescription due to their low magnitudes of error; thus, allowing for the detection of meaningful changes in neuromuscular status and functional performance during RT.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the goodness of fit, prediction accuracy, and stability of general and individual relationships between velocity loss and the percentage of completed repetitions out of maximum possible (VL-%_repetitions) in the free-weight back squat exercise. The effects of sex, training status and history, as well as personality traits, on the goodness of fit and the accuracy of these relationships were also investigated. Methods: Forty-six resistance-trained people (15 females and 31 males) performed a one-repetition maximum (1RM) test, and two repetitions to failure (RTF) tests, 72 h apart. RTF tests were performed with 70, 80, and 90% of 1RM with 10 min inter-set rest. Results: The findings question the utility of using general and individual VL-%_repetitions relationships to prescribe training volume with free-weight back squats as (1) the agreement in the %_repetitions completed until reaching a given velocity loss threshold across two consecutive testing sessions was unacceptable, regardless of the load used; and (2) the ability of general and individual VL-%_repetitions relationships to predict %_repetitions in a subsequent testing session were poor (absolute errors > 10%). Sex, training status and history, and personality traits did not affect the goodness of fit of general and individual VL-%_repetitions relationships or their prediction accuracy, suggesting potential generalisability of those findings among resistance-trained populations. Conclusions: VL-%_repetitions relationships do not seem to provide any additional benefits compared to costless, traditional methods and hence should not be used for monitoring and prescribing resistance training with a free-weight back squat exercise.

Alongside thin ideals, internalizing muscular and/or lean body ideals is associated with eating disorder (ED) symptomatology, especially among males. However, assessment of drive for muscularity (DM) and drive for leanness (DL) also captures attitudes and behaviors that are normative in the general population. The aim of this study was to identify components of DM and DL that are independently linked to core body image disturbance in EDs-shape/weight dissatisfaction, overvaluation ,and fear of weight gain-in community adolescents using network analysis. A representative sample of 4,975 Australian adolescents (53% females, M_age = 14.92) from Wave 1 of the EveryBODY study was included in the analyses. We estimated regularized and unregularized networks, identified communities of items, estimated bridge centrality between communities, and explored sex differences in network structure and connectivity with a Network Comparison Test. Results showed that items "feeling better about oneself if having a lean body" and "wishing to be muscular" had the highest bridge centralities, and network structures of male and females did not significantly differ. Importantly, some components of DM were negatively associated with body image disturbance. These findings suggest that, when investigating the role of DL and DM in EDs, it would be useful to further assess these constructs as multifaceted since relationships between these phenomena are likely more nuanced than previously speculated. Development and subsequent use of instruments for certain behaviors and/or attitudes more specifically associated with body image disturbance might be more informative than somewhat artificially confined focus on either thinness, leanness, or muscularity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).