Journal
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
Volume 33, Issue 8, Pages 1337-1343Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s11606-018-4465-z
Keywords
obesity; eating disorders; anorexia nervosa; bulimia nervosa; binge eating; weight control behaviors; young adult
Funding
- Pediatric Scientist Development Program [K12HD000850-33]
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
- American Pediatric Society (APS)
- Norman Schlossberger Research Fund from the University of California, San Francisco
- NIH [5R01HD082166-02]
- [K23 MH115184]
- EUNICE KENNEDY SHRIVER NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT [R01HD082166, P01HD031921, K12HD000850] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH [K23MH115184] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
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Clinical and community samples indicate that eating disorders (EDs) and disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) may co-occur among adolescents and young adults at a weight status classified as overweight or obese. To determine the prevalence of EDs and DEBs among young adults at a weight status classified as overweight or obese using a nationally representative sample and to characterize differences in prevalence by sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. Cross-sectional nationally representative data collected from Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). Young adults ages 18-24 years old. ED diagnosis and DEBs (self-reported binge eating or unhealthy weight control behaviors including vomiting, fasting/skipping meals, or laxative/diuretic use to lose weight). Covariates: age, sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, weight status, and education. Of the 14,322 young adults in the sample, 48.6% were at a weight status classified as overweight or obese. Compared to young adults at a weight status classified as underweight or normal weight, those at a weight status classified as overweight or obese reported a higher rate of DEBs (29.3 vs 15.8% in females, 15.4 vs 7.5% in males). Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that odds of engaging in DEBs were 2.32 (95% confidence interval 2.05-2.61) times higher for females compared to males; 1.66 (1.23-2.24) times higher for Asian/Pacific Islander compared to White; 1.62 (1.16-2.26) times higher for homosexual or bisexual compared to heterosexual; 1.26 (1.09-1.44) times higher for high school or less versus more than high school education; and 2.45 (2.16-2.79) times higher for obesity compared to normal weight, adjusting for all covariates. The high prevalence of DEBs particularly in young adults at a weight status classified as overweight or obese underscores the need for screening, referrals, and tailored interventions for DEBs in this population.
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