Disordered eating behaviors and cardiometabolic risk among young adults with overweight or obesity

Objective: Dieting and unhealthy weight control behaviors have been associated with negative outcomes. Most research has examined the prevalence of these behaviors in adolescence and young adulthood. Less is known about whether they persist further into adulthood. We examined patterns of weight control behaviors beyond young adulthood using data from 1,455 males and females participating in Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults), a 15-year population-based, longitudinal study. Method: Participants completed surveys assessing dieting, high-frequency dieting (i.e., 5+ times/year), unhealthy weight control (e.g., fasting), and extreme weight control (e.g., vomiting) at each 5-year assessment (Waves 1–4). Longitudinal logistic regression models tested trends in weight control behaviors across the waves. Likelihood of persisting or discontinuing each behavior from Wave 3 to Wave 4 was examined through cross tabulations. Results: Between Waves 3 and 4 in adulthood, dieting increased for both genders (Women: p < .001; Men: p = .004) and high-frequency dieting (p < .001) and unhealthy weight control behaviors (p = .011) increased for men. For both genders, dieting and unhealthy weight control patterns initiated in prior to young adulthood were more likely to persist than cease in adulthood (ps < .001). Discussion: Weight control behaviors continue to be prevalent in adulthood, and to especially increase among men. Research is needed to understand the consequences of weight control behaviors in different life stages; however, the results suggest that interventions to decrease unhealthy weight management practices may be needed well into adulthood.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of weight control behavior persisting beyond young adulthood: Results from a 15‐year longitudinal study

Haynos

Wall

Chen

et al. 2018

“…Multiple logistic regressions were used to assess baseline (adolescent) predictors including demographics, behaviors, mental health, and weight factors of 7‐year follow‐up (young adult) weight gain attempts and any muscularity‐oriented disordered eating behavior. All models included the baseline variables age, race/ethnicity, and household income (Haines, Kleinman, Rifas‐Shiman, Field, & Austin, ; Nagata et al, ; Neumark‐Sztainer et al, ; Tabler & Utz, ). Analyses were stratified by sex given the different rates of weight gain attempts (Nagata et al, ) and muscularity‐oriented disordered eating behaviors (Eisenberg et al, ) in males and females.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictors of muscularity‐oriented disordered eating behaviors in U.S. young adults: A prospective cohort study

Nagata

Murray

Bibbins‐Domingo

et al. 2019

Self Cite

Objective To determine adolescent predictors of muscularity‐oriented disordered eating behaviors in young men and women using a nationally representative longitudinal sample in the United States and to examine differences by sex. Method We used nationally representative longitudinal cohort data collected from baseline (11–18 years old, 1994–1995) and 7‐year follow‐up (18–24 years old, 2001–2002) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. We examined adolescent demographic, behavioral, and mental health predictors of young adult muscularity‐oriented disordered eating behaviors defined as eating more or differently to gain weight or bulk up, supplements to gain weight or bulk up, or androgenic anabolic steroid use at 7‐year follow‐up. Results Of the 14,891 included participants, 22% of males and 5% of females reported any muscularity‐oriented disordered eating behavior at follow‐up in young adulthood. Factors recorded at adolescence that were prospectively associated with higher odds of muscularity‐oriented disordered eating in both sexes included black race, exercising to gain weight, self‐perception of being underweight, and lower body mass index z‐score. In addition, participation in weightlifting; roller‐blading, roller‐skating, skate‐boarding, or bicycling; and alcohol among males and depressive symptoms among females during adolescence were associated with higher odds of muscularity‐oriented disordered eating in young adulthood. Conclusions Interventions to prevent muscularity‐oriented disordered eating behaviors may target at‐risk youth, particularly those of black race or who engage in exercise to gain weight. Future research should examine longitudinal health outcomes associated with muscularity‐oriented disordered eating behaviors.

“…Young women disproportionately engage in disordered eating behaviors compared to young men (Stephen, Rose, Kenney, Rosselli‐Navarra, & Weissman, ). Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors are associated with depression (Neumark‐Sztainer, Wall, Larson, Eisenberg, & Loth, ), cardiometabolic risk factors (Nagata, Garber, Tabler, Murray, Vittinghoff, et al, ), and several risk behaviors including alcohol use (Fouladi et al, ), tobacco use (Solmi et al, ), and illicit drug use (Baker et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors among women: Associations with sexual risk

Fergus

Copp

Tabler

2019

Self Cite

Objective To evaluate the association between eating disorders or disordered eating behaviors and sexual risk in young women. Method We used prospective cohort data of young women ages 18–26 years from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 5,899). Exposures of interest (at 18–26 years) included a self‐reported eating disorder diagnosis or disordered eating behaviors including fasting/skipping meals, vomiting, diet pills, or laxative/diuretic use to lose weight and binge eating. Sexual risk outcomes at 7‐year follow‐up included the number of new sexual partners, condom use, and sexually transmitted infections. Results Having either an eating disorder or reporting any disordered eating behavior was associated with a greater number of new sexual partners (B = 1.09, 95% CI [0.18, 2.00]) and lower odds of condom use (odds ratio 0.70, 95% CI [0.53, 0.94] among a subsample of sexually active, unmarried women). Discussion Young women with eating disorders or who engage in disordered eating behaviors are at higher risk for multiple new sexual partners and unprotected sex. Clinicians caring for young adults with eating disorders may consider screening for sexual risk behaviors.