Longitudinal follow-up of a comprehensive operationalization of eating disorder recovery: Concurrent and predictive validity

Objective: We aimed to replicate the concurrent validity of a comprehensive definition of eating disorder recovery (physical, behavioral, and cognitive indices) in a sample followed up 7-8 years from baseline, and to examine, for the first time with this comprehensive definition, predictive validity.

Method: Participants were 66 women with a history of an eating disorder and 31 age-matched controls who completed an online survey and phone interview.

Results: In general, women who were fully recovered were statistically indistinguishable from controls and had significantly less eating disorder attitudes and behaviors than the partially recovered and eating disorder groups. Being fully recovered at baseline was a robust predictor of stability: of those fully recovered at baseline, 80% remained fully recovered at follow-up. One-third of those with an eating disorder and one-half of those in partial recovery at baseline attained full recovery at follow-up.

Discussion: These findings support the current operationalization of eating disorder recovery, encompassing physical, behavioral, and cognitive indices, as valid and highlight that full recovery is not only possible but predicts full recovery years later. Future research should examine this operationalization in diverse samples and study trajectories of recovery to identify predictors.