Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40212024›Full record

ArticleThe International journal of eating disorders2025

Distinct Patterns of Dynamical Regulation in Passive Sensor Data Following Binge and Purge Behaviors.

Jonathan E Butner, Laura M Thornton, Robyn E Kilshaw, Rachael E Flatt, Qinxin Shi, Pascal R Deboeck, Jenna Tregarthen, Stuart Argue, Brian R W Baucom, Cynthia M Bulik

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The International journal of eating disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Jonathan E ButnerDepartment of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-8747-5708
Laura M ThorntonDepartment of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-9384-7988
Robyn E KilshawDepartment of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Rachael E FlattDepartment of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Qinxin ShiDepartment of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Pascal R DeboeckDepartment of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Jenna TregarthenRecovery Record, Palo Alto, California, USA.
Stuart ArgueRecovery Record, Palo Alto, California, USA.
Brian R W BaucomDepartment of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Cynthia M BulikDepartment of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.

Funding

Predicting Binge and Purge Episodes from Passive and Active Apple Watch Data Using a Dynamical Systems ApproachR01MH119084 · NIMH · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI BULIK, CYNTHIA M, BUTNER, JONATHAN · 2019 to 2022
$2.8M
1/7 Psychiatric Genomics Consortium: Finding actionable variationU01MH109528 · NIMH · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI SULLIVAN, PATRICK F · 2016 to 2020
$2.5M
Brain and Behavior Research Foundation BBRF: NARSADFoundation of Hope for Research and Treatment of Mental IllnessNational Eating Disorders AssociationNational Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences R01MH119084NIMH NIH HHS MH119084NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH119084NIMH NIH HHS U01 MH109528
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBinge eating is a cardinal symptom of binge-eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa (BN), while recurrent purging is specific to BN (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). These behaviors are associated with health consequences (e.g., gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and metabolic problems; Sheehan & Herman, 2015). The distress-regulating effects of binge and purge behaviors are important targets for intervention. The aims of this examination were to characterize the regulatory dynamics of heart rate (HR) and physical activity following binge and purge behaviors, test whether these dynamics were different from control periods, and test whether these dynamics were different from one another.

methodsA subsample of participants (n = 295) from the BEGIN study reported binges and purges using the Recovery Record app for 30 days; Apple Watch devices were used to measure steps and HR. Regulatory dynamics of the velocity and acceleration of HR and steps were modeled using multilevel models.

resultsRegulatory dynamics of HR were different following binges (dysregulated) relative to control periods (homeostatic) and relative to those following purges (mixed). Regulatory dynamics of steps were significantly different following binges (dysregulated) and following purges (homeostatic) relative to control periods (different type of homeostatic) as well as with respect to one another.

conclusionsRegulatory dynamics of HR and physical activity can be captured using smart watches and modeled using systems models. Regulatory dynamics of HR have promise as a marker of treatment progress in reducing binge eating frequency, and regulatory dynamics of steps have promise as a digital marker of binge and purge behaviors. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Measures from commercial smart watches are able to detect changes in the complex patterning of heart rate and physical activity following binge eating and purging for individuals with BED. Given the cycle of past dynamics relating to future dynamics, the results suggest that these commercial devices could be useful for tracking treatment progress in reducing binge and purge frequency.

Indexed as

Binge-Eating DisorderBulimiaExerciseHeart RateAdultFemaleHumansMaleYoung Adultbinge eating disorderdynamical systemsregulatory dynamics

Identifiers

PMID40212024
PMCPMC12232364

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.