Eating disorders—including anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder—are clinically distinct but exhibit symptom overlap and diagnostic crossover. Genomic analyses have mostly examined AN. Here we conducted a genomic meta-analysis of case–control studies of binge-eating behavior (BE; 39,279 cases, 1,227,436 controls), alongside analyses of AN (24,223 cases, 1,243,971 controls) and its subtypes (all European ancestries). We identified six BE-associated loci, including loci associated with a higher body mass index and impulse-control behaviors. AN genome-wide association studies yielded eight loci, validating six loci. Subsequent polygenic risk score analysis demonstrated an association with AN in two East Asian ancestry studies. BE and AN exhibited similar positive genetic correlations with psychiatric disorders but opposing genetic correlations with anthropometric traits. Most of the genetic signal in BE and AN was not shared with body mass index. We have extended eating disorder genomics beyond AN; future work will incorporate multiple diagnoses and global ancestries.
Jet D Termorshuizen, Helena L Davies, Sang-Hyuck Lee et al.· Nature Mental Health· 0 citations
Eating disorders (EDs) substantially impair physical health, psychological well-being, and social functioning. Shorter untreated illness duration has been proposed to be associated with better outcomes, though evidence for this relationship remains mixed. Nonetheless, delays in accessing treatment remain common and contribute to prolonged suffering and risk of lasting harm. This study aimed to estimate the duration of untreated eating disorder (DUED) and examine potential moderators.
A PRISMA 2020-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Searches were performed from inception to March 2026 in PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. Random-effects models were used to estimate pooled DUED of available studies, with subgroup and meta-regression analyses to explore moderators. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using National Institutes of Health (NIH) tools.
Of 2,776 records identified, 29 studies (
n
= 17,433) were included. The pooled DUED of available studies was 21.9 months (95% CI 18.0–25.8), with substantial heterogeneity (I² = 99.7%). In subgroup analyses, DUED was longer in bulimia nervosa than anorexia nervosa (41.5 vs. 19.9 months). Meta-regression identified mean age as a significant moderator (β = 1.91, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.7,
p
< 0.001), indicating longer delays in older individuals. DUED also differed across country, continent, age group, and study design, while decade subgroup estimates were lower in studies from the 2020s than the 2010s.
Individuals with EDs experience substantial delays before accessing treatment, with untreated illness exceeding 20 months on average. Older age was associated with longer DUED, suggesting potential gaps in detection and help-seeking among adults. DUED varies across demographic, geographic and methodological factors. While decreasing DUED over time is encouraging, these findings highlight the need for earlier identification and streamlined care pathways to reduce delays and improve outcomes in people with ED.
Gyselle de Geus, Mike Trott, A. Monteleone et al.· Journal of Eating Disorders· 0 citations
