Exploring Transdiagnostic Eating Disorder Symptoms and Disorder of Gut‐Brain Interaction Symptoms in Individuals With Connective Tissue Disorders

Objective Individuals with connective tissue disorders (CTDs) commonly experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms resulting from disorders of gut‐brain interaction (DGBI) and may attempt to manage GI distress with dietary restriction. Among adults with CTDs, we aimed to: (1) identify the prevalence and characteristics of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) symptoms (ARFID+) and other eating disorder (e.g., anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, etc.) symptoms (Other‐ED+), and (2) explore the relationship between GI symptom severity and ARFID+/Other‐ED+. Method Participants ( N = 205; ages 18–71 years; 94% female) completed surveys to assess ARFID+/Other‐ED+, likely DGBI diagnoses, and GI symptom severity. We calculated the prevalence of ARFID+/Other‐ED+ and likely DGBI and compared the demographics and symptom severity of those with vs. without ARFID+ or Other‐ED+. We tested whether upper and/or lower GI symptom severity was associated with the presence of: (1) Other‐ED+ or (2) ARFID+, controlling for age. Results Likely DGBI were common in CTDs (89%), as were Other‐ED+ (50.2%) with lower frequency of ARFID+ (18%). While controlling for age, lower GI symptom severity was associated with odds of Other‐ED+, but not ARFID+. Discussion Clinically significant Other‐ED+ were 3× more prevalent than ARFID+ in adults with CTD, possibly driven by heightened lower GI symptom severity. Future research should clarify the temporality of Other‐ED+ onset in the context of CTDs and relation to GI symptoms.