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A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: May 10, 2022
Time trends in obesity and eating disorders
Henrik Daae Zachrisson1, Einar Vedul-Kjelsås, K Gunnar Götestam
1Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Mental Health, Oslo, Norway. henrik.daae.zachrisson@fhi.no
The International Journal of Eating Disorders
|June 10, 2008
Summary
Despite rising obesity rates, the prevalence of eating disorders in Norwegian women remained stable between 1991 and 2004. This suggests that increased obesity does not necessarily lead to more eating disorders, even with a strong association.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Obesity prevalence has significantly increased globally over recent decades.
- Obesity is recognized as a risk factor for the development of eating disorders.
- Understanding the relationship between obesity trends and eating disorder prevalence is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the rise in obesity correlates with an increased prevalence of eating disorders.
- To examine trends in eating disorders and obesity within the general female population in Norway.
- To assess the association between obesity and eating disorders over time.
Main Methods:
- A comparative analysis of two national surveys conducted in Norway in 1991 and 2004.
- Inclusion of 1,537 participants in 1991 and 1,467 in 2004.
- Utilized the self-report questionnaire survey for eating disorders (SEDs) for diagnosis at both time points.
Main Results:
- Overweight and obesity prevalence doubled between 1991 and 2004.
- The prevalence of eating disorders remained stable across the study period.
- A strong association between obesity and eating disorders was observed in both 1991 and 2004.
Conclusions:
- An increase in obesity prevalence was not accompanied by a rise in eating disorder prevalence.
- The established link between obesity and eating disorders persists, despite differing prevalence trends.
- Public health strategies may need to consider the complex interplay between obesity and eating disorders separately.
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