Katherine Schaumberg

• Professor (Assistant) at University of Wisconsin–Madison

Understanding gene–environment interaction (GxE) is crucial for deciphering the genetic architecture of human complex traits. However, current statistical methods for GxE inference face challenges in both scalability and interpretability. Here we introduce PIGEON—a unified statistical framework for quantifying polygenic GxE using a variance compone...

Introduction: Clinicians often determine an ‘expected body weight’ (EBW) for patients who have lost weight due to an eating disorder (ED). However, there is inconsistent guidance and limited empirical research on whether and when these weights should be shared with patients. This study explores clinician and patient perspectives on discussions of E...

Objective: Compulsive exercise is a common feature of eating disorders (EDs) but understanding of factors that drive this symptom remain limited. This pilot trial evaluated psychobiological response to in-laboratory exercise among females (16-22y) with and without restrictive EDs. We aimed to demonstrate feasibility of two exercise assessment proto...

Purpose: Physicians can play a critical role in the early identification and treatment of eating disorders (EDs), yet many report low confidence in diagnosing and managing these illnesses. ED education during medical training has the potential to improve physicians’ competence in recognizing, diagnosing, and treating EDs. This study assessed the co...

Objective While weight restoration and/or stabilization is crucial for successful treatment and sustained recovery from restrictive eating disorders (EDs), it is often challenging to define an individual's expected healthy body weight. This paper introduces the TeenGrowth package and its web‐based application, designed to calculate and forecast pre...

Background Weight stigma among healthcare professionals is associated with negative health impacts on patients, yet there are few effective strategies to combat weight stigma among health professional learners. The Body Advocacy Movement-Health (BAM-Health) is a novel group-based, peer-led stigma reduction intervention for health professional stude...

While exercise is generally associated with positive health outcomes, in the context of eating disorders, exercise has high potential to become maladaptive. Maladaptive exercise is compelled or compulsive in nature for the purposes of weight and shape control or to obtain/avoid other eating disorder-relevant consequences. A transdiagnostic eating d...

Background Weight stigma among healthcare professionals is associated with negative health impacts on patients, yet there are few effective strategies to combat weight stigma among health professional learners. The present study explores the acceptability, feasibility, and short-term impacts of Body Advocacy Movement-Health (BAM-Health), a group-ba...

Objective Although exercise is generally considered healthy, many individuals engage in maladaptive exercise (e.g., compulsive in nature). Several definitions of maladaptive exercise exist, leading to multiple, varied assessment tools; assuming homogeneity across these assessments contributes to low consensus in etiological models. Method We used...

Background Exercise for weight loss and maladaptive exercise (exercise that results in negative consequences or interference with daily life) are common behaviors among youth and are associated with increased risk of disordered eating symptoms. The current study clarifies processes that influence exercise‐related risk in adolescence and young adult...

Maladaptive exercise (i.e., exercise that compensates for binge eating or is used to avoid negative consequences of not exercising-like weight gain) is a common eating disorder (ED) behavior, yet, some individuals with EDs only engage in adaptive exercise. CBT for EDs targets reducing maladaptive exercise but does not address adaptive exercise. Thu...

Objective There is increasing consensus that open science practices improve the transparency and quality of clinical science. However, several barriers impede the implementation of these practices at the individual, institutional, and field levels; understanding and addressing these barriers is critical to promoting targeted efforts in increasing e...

In this study, we introduce PIGEON-a novel statistical framework for quantifying and estimating polygenic gene-environment interaction (GxE) using a variance component analytical approach. Based on PIGEON, we outline the main objectives in GxE studies, demonstrate the flaws in existing GxE approaches, and introduce an innovative estimation procedur...

Exercise for weight loss and maladaptive exercise (exercise that results in negative consequences or interference with daily life) are common behaviors amongst youth and are associated with increased risk of disordered eating symptoms. The current study clarifies processes that influence exercise-related risk in adolescence and young adulthood, inc...

Wearable fitness trackers are an increasingly popular tool for measuring physical activity (PA) due their accuracy and momentary data collection abilities. Despite the benefits of using wearable fitness trackers, there is limited research in the eating disorder (ED) field using wearable fitness trackers to measure PA in the context of EDs. Wearable...

Wearable fitness trackers are an increasingly popular tool for measuring physical activity (PA) due their accuracy and momentary data collection abilities. Despite the benefits of using wearable fitness trackers, there is limited research in the eating disorder (ED) field using wearable fitness trackers to measure PA in the context of EDs. Wearable...

Background Clinical, epidemiological, and genetic findings support an overlap between eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and anxiety symptoms. However, little research has examined the role of genetics in the expression of underlying phenotypes. We investigated whether the anorexia nervosa (AN), OCD, or AN/OCD transdiagnostic po...

Deficits in social cognition and communication, the processes associated with human social behavior and interaction, have been described in individuals with eating disorder psychopathology. The current study examined whether social communication characteristics present in middle childhood (ages 8–14) were associated with eating disorder behaviors,...

Objective Driven exercise (DEx) is a serious and common feature of eating disorders (EDs), but current understanding of factors that give rise to and maintain DEx is limited. DEx may be reinforced through its effects on the threat reduction and reward systems. The current protocol is designed to evaluate acute psychobiological response to exercise...

The tripartite influence model suggests that appearance pressures from family, peers, and the media contribute to thin-ideal internalization, which leads to increased body dissatisfaction and subsequent eating disorder pathology. The tripartite influence model was initially developed and tested among primarily White samples, and emerging research s...

Anxiety and eating disorders (EDs) often co‐occur, prompting calls to explore anxiety‐related maintenance processes in ED samples. Safety behaviors, which function to prevent a feared outcome from occurring or to reduce anxiety associated with a feared stimulus, are observed across anxiety disorders and, along with overt avoidance behaviors, are an...

Purpose Cognitive rumination is a transdiagnostic construct that has been increasingly studied in the context of eating disorders (EDs). While this literature has consistently linked trait-level general and ED-specific forms of rumination to ED psychopathology, it is not clear whether trait-level measures are independently related to symptoms in da...

Eating disorders (EDs) and anxiety disorders (ADs) evidence shared risk and significant comorbidity. Recent advances in understanding of anxiety-based disorders may have direct application to research and treatment efforts for EDs. The current review presents an up-to-date, behavioral conceptualization of the overlap between anxiety-based disorders...

Objective The Criterion B binge‐eating symptoms represent five symptoms associated with binge eating. Any three out of five symptoms can be used to meet Criterion B. However, Criterion B symptoms may not be interchangeable in terms of how binge‐eating severity is associated with each symptom. Item response theory (IRT) can test how endorsing each s...

Clinical, epidemiological, and genetic findings support an overlap between eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and anxiety symptoms. However, little research has examined the role of genetic factors in the expression of eating disorders and OCD/anxiety phenotypes. We examined whether the anorexia nervosa (AN), OCD, or AN/OCD tran...

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by heightened avoidance, cognitive inflexibility, and impaired reward processing. Maladaptive behavior in PTSD may reflect an imbalance between approach and avoidance, but no research has investigated approach-avoidance conflict (AAC) in PTSD. The current study investigated approach-avoidance be...

Maladaptive avoidance/intolerance of negative emotional states has been widely shown to contribute to negative outcomes. Growing interest in this construct has led to the use of multiple terms (e.g., emotion dysregulation, distress intolerance, experiential avoidance, anxiety sensitivity, negative urgency) to describe such individual differences, e...

While facets of both anxiety and impulsivity appear central to the development and maintenance of bulimia nervosa (BN), specific BN behaviors may be propagated by differing profiles of risk. The current study examined associations between dimensions of anxiety and impulsivity and BN symptoms (binge eating, vomiting, laxative misuse, driven exercise...

Objective: Cross-sectional associations between eating disorders (EDs) and deficits in neuropsychological functioning have been well documented; however, limited research has examined whether neuropsychological functioning is prospectively associated with EDs. The current study investigated prospective associations between neuropsychological funct...

Individuals engage in a variety of dietary choices each day that affect their overall health. Determining what variables might influence food choice can provide useful information to assist people in making healthier decisions. The current studies utilized a behavioral economic paradigm to evaluate patterns in food choice as default food options ch...

Objective Clinically, anorexia nervosa (AN) presents with altered body composition. We quantified these alterations and evaluated their relationships with metabolites and hormones in patients with AN longitudinally. Method In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, we conducted 94 meta‐analyses on 62 samples published during 1996–2019, comparing up to...

Objective Maladaptive exercise relates to eating disorder (ED) pathology and impairment in clinical and non-clinical populations. At present, two different conceptualizations of maladaptive exercise are often studied in relation to ED pathology: compulsive exercise and exercise dependence. Compulsive exercise functions to avoid negative affect (e.g...

This cross-sectional study explored similarities and differences between heterosexual, bisexual, and lesbian women in levels of, and relationships between, the following constructs using a Tripartite Influence Model framework: family, peer, and media appearance pressures, thin and muscular ideal internalization, and eating disorder (ED) pathology....

As aesthetic athletes, professional dancers have increased vulnerability for eating disorders (EDs), with three times higher risk than non-dancers. Among ballet dancers, generalized risk for EDs associated with internalization of western cultural female beauty ideals is compounded by idealization of a ballet-specific body ideal, a combination that...

Background Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are highly heritable (~50–60%) and positively significantly genetically correlated (rg=0.48–0.55), suggesting that the same markers confer risk for both disorders. We hypothesized that an AN and OCD polygenic risk scores (PRS) could explain individual differences in adolescent...

Background Cross‐sectional associations between anxiety disorders and eating disorders (EDs) have been well documented; however, limited research has examined whether symptoms of anxiety disorders are prospectively associated with EDs. Identifying these longitudinal associations can aid in discerning relationships among eating and anxiety disorders...

Objective Evidence suggests that eating disorders (EDs) may be under‐detected in males. Commonly used measures of EDs such as the Eating Disorder Examination‐Questionnaire (EDE‐Q) were initially developed within female samples, raising concern regarding the extent to which these instruments may be appropriate for detecting EDs in males. The current...

Weight suppression (WS) refers to the discrepancy between highest adult weight and current weight, and has been examined as a key construct related to both: eating pathology and weight management. However, despite increasing interest in WS, findings regarding the clinical implications of WS are often conflicting. For instance, WS has been associate...

Researchers have observed variation in levels of body image disturbance and eating pathology among women from different Western countries. Examination of cross-cultural differences in the established risk factors (i.e., thin-ideal internalization, muscular-ideal internalization, and appearance pressures from family, peers, and media) for negative o...

Background Transition across eating disorder diagnoses is common, reflecting instability of specific eating disorder presentations. Previous studies have examined temporal stability of diagnoses in adult treatment-seeking samples but have not uniformly captured initial presentation for treatment. The current study examines transitions across eating...

Body dissatisfaction, the negative subjective evaluation of one’s body, is associated with many negative psychological and physical health consequences. One conceptualization of body dissatisfaction includes an experience of discrepancy between perceived actual and ideal body shapes. This paper reviews the literature on three facets of body dissati...

Objective: Outcome variables gauging the frequency of specific disordered eating behaviors (e.g., binge eating, vomiting) are common in the study of eating and health behaviors. The nature of such data presents several analytical challenges, which may be best addressed through the application of underutilized statistical approaches. The current st...

Sedentary behavior, particularly in prolonged periods, is an important determinant of health. Little research exploring changes in sedentary behavior during behavioral weight loss programs exists. This study evaluated the magnitude of changes in total and prolonged sedentary behavior and how these changes related to changes in weight and cardiovasc...

Objectification theory posits that internalization of societal perspectives about the female body leads to increased body surveillance, which can result in body-related shame and subsequent eating disorder (ED) behaviors. Preliminary research indicates that these associations may be complex in nature. This study examined temporal relations among bo...

Objective: In 2015, the Academy for Eating Disorders collaborated with international patient, advocacy, and parent organizations to craft the 'Nine Truths About Eating Disorders'. This document has been translated into over 30 languages and has been distributed globally to replace outdated and erroneous stereotypes about eating disorders with fact...

Purpose of review: Genetic factors contribute to the etiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). This review synthesizes the current state of knowledge about the genetic etiology of AN, provides directions for future research, and discusses clinical implications for this research. Recent findings: Candidate gene meta-analyses indicate serotonin genes may...

Initial trials evaluating exposure-based interventions for eating disorders (EDs) in the 1980s demonstrated mixed results. Since that time, innovations in exposure therapy for anxiety disorders have yielded insights that can be used to refine and expand the approach to effectively target ED behaviors. This article provides a brief summary of releva...

Objective: This study was designed to compare weight loss through a traditional behavioral treatment (BT) approach that integrated skills for managing the obesogenic food environment (BT + E) with an approach that integrated environmental and acceptance-based skills (BT + EA). Moderators were examined as an exploratory aim. Methods: Adults (N =...

Measures of dietary restraint do not consistently predict caloric restriction, and these scales appear inadequate for differentiating between healthy and risky restraint in individuals. The current study examined the relationship between self-reported dietary restraint, recent weight loss, body mass index (BMI), and eating pathology in a college sa...

Emotion dysregulation is a mechanism central to the development and maintenance of various psychological disorders. Notably, men and women may differ in their experience of emotion regulation; for instance, women generally report more frequent use of problematic emotion regulation strategies. While considering the possibility that true gender diffe...

Behavioural weight control programmes recommend adherence to daily energy intake goals, yet also allow for flexibility in intake across days. Evidence is lacking as to whether intake consistency is important for weight control. The current study explored the relation between day-to-day intake consistency and weight loss in the context of behavioura...

Dietary restraint has historically been implicated as a risk factor for the development of eating pathology. Despite existing findings, recent research suggests that many individuals are capable of practicing dietary restraint without negative effects. In order to successfully incorporate the positive aspects of dietary restraint into interventions...

Objective: Evaluate the association between pretreatment and during-treatment weight change, as well as differences in self-regulation between those who gain weight, remain weight stable, and lose weight pretreatment. Methods: Data from the first 6 months of a behavioral weight loss study were used. Participants (n = 283) were weighed at two ass...

Objectives: Eating-related disinhibition (i.e., a tendency to overeat in response to various stimuli) is associated with weight gain and poorer long-term weight loss success. Theoretically, experiential avoidance (i.e., the desire or attempts to avoid uncomfortable internal experiences), may predispose individuals to developing negative reinforcem...

Despite common wisdom that reducing alcohol intake will facilitate weight loss, little research has examined whether participants in behavioral weight loss treatments actually decrease their alcohol intake, or whether reduced alcohol intake relates to weight loss outcomes in this context. This study examined the relationship of alcohol use to energ...

Non-overweight individuals may follow aggressive weight management approaches alongside overweight/obese friends or family members; thus, research has begun to evaluate subsequent effects among non-overweight populations. A prior study evaluated the short-term effects of an immersion weight loss programme on healthy young adult staff leaders. Resul...

Objective: Exercise correlates with alcohol use, but the nature of this relation and the extent to which it is maladaptive remains unclear. Urgency and motives for engaging in drinking and exercise might indicate when these behaviors are problematic. The current study examined whether urgency moderated the association between exercise motivated by...

Mindful eating and intuitive eating are promoted as means to circumvent potentially maladaptive dietary restraint while maintaining a healthy weight. Although theoretically related, no studies have examined the correlations between intuitive eating, mindful eating, and restraint in the same sample. This study sought to examine these constructs and...

Despite the success of weight-management programmes, some researchers caution that participation in an aggressive approach to weight management could promote the development of eating pathology. The current study evaluated the risks and benefits for young adults of serving as staff members in an immersion treatment of adolescent obesity over the co...

Within exposure-based trauma treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), imagery vividness during imaginal exposure of the traumatic memory is an understudied but potentially important predictor of treatment outcome. Further, to our knowledge, this relationship has only been studied in women to date, and never among individuals with PTSD a...

The Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3 (SATAQ-3) and its earlier versions are measures designed to assess societal and interpersonal aspects of appearance ideals. Correlational, structural equation modeling, and prospective studies of the SATAQ-3 have shown consistent and significant associations with measures of body image...

Introduction: Problematic alcohol use is highly comorbid with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and prior work has demonstrated that individuals with PTSD may self-medicate with alcohol in an effort to reduce their symptoms. The combination of impulsivity and alcohol-related expectancies influences the development of problematic drinking patte...

Unlabelled: Abstract. Objective: The current study investigated rates of endorsement of eating-related compensatory behaviors within a college sample. Participants: This sample included male and female students (N = 1,158). Methods: PARTICIPANTS completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). The study defined 3 groups of st...

Unlabelled: Personalized feedback (PF) has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing drinking. Few studies have examined its effectiveness with adult problem drinkers or its potential mediators or moderators, including developing discrepancy. This study aimed to identify potential mediators and moderators of PF provided to adult problem drinking men...

The current study examines participants' attributions of change in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial of problem drinkers wanting to moderate their alcohol consumption. Participants were assigned to 12 weeks of naltrexone or placebo, which was paired with either combined motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy (MBSCT) al...

Surveillance data has indicated that men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) engage in high rates of unprotected anal sex, a known casual risk factor for the spread of HIV infection. Several data collection methods have been developed to enhance response accuracy specific to risky sexual behavior. A commonly used method is the Time-Line Follow-Back (TLFB)...

The aim of this study was to replicate and extend results of a previous trial that investigated the effectiveness of 2 peer-led eating disorders prevention interventions in reducing eating disorder risk factors in undergraduate women (C. B. Becker, L. M. Smith, & A. C. Ciao, 2006). To extend findings from the previous study by allowing for investig...

Although several efficacious treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exist, these treatments are currently underutilized in clinical practice. To address this issue, research must better identify barriers to dissemination of these treatments. This study investigated patient preferences for PTSD treatment given a wide range of treatment...