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Risk factors for binge-eating disorders: an exploratory study

Ruth H Striegel-Moore1, Faith-Anne Dohm, Helena C Kraemer

  • 1Department of Psychology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut 06459, USA. rstriegel@wesleyan.edu

The International Journal of Eating Disorders
|June 19, 2007
PubMed

Insights

High perceived stress before age 14 may predict binge-eating disorders (BED/BN) in women. This study identified one pathway for approximately 13% of cases, suggesting complex eating disorder origins.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Childhood risk factors for eating disorders are not fully understood.
  • Prospective data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study offer insights into developmental trajectories.
  • Binge-eating disorders (BED/BN) represent a significant public health concern with complex etiologies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate childhood risk factors for the development of binge-eating disorders (BED/BN).
  • To identify specific pathways linking early life experiences to later eating disorder onset.
  • To utilize prospective data for a comprehensive analysis of risk factors.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study.
  • Inclusion of 45 women with a history of BED/BN (onset age 14-20) and 1,515 controls.
  • Application of signal detection analysis to identify predictive pathways.

Main Results:

  • A single pathway was identified, accounting for approximately 13% of BED/BN cases.
  • Elevated perceived stress prior to age 14 emerged as a significant predictor in this pathway.
  • This finding suggests a potential early-life stress-eating disorder link.

Conclusions:

  • Eating disorders likely have multiple, complex origins.
  • Elevated perceived stress in childhood may precede the onset of binge-eating disorders.
  • Further research is needed to establish causality between early stress and BED/BN.
Abstract

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