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Disordered eating in adulthood is associated with reported weight loss attempts in childhood
Tamar B Rubinstein1, Aileen P McGinn, Rachel P Wildman
1Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
Objective:
To determine whether history of attempted weight loss in childhood (age ≤ 12 years) is associated with binge eating disorder (BED) and unhealthy weight loss behaviors in adults.
Method:
Cross-sectional analysis from baseline visit data of 588 participants of a clinical trial. Data were collected from survey answers on health status, nutritional status, weight loss history, and weight loss behaviors.
Results:
History of childhood weight loss attempts was associated with high odds of BED in adults (odds ratio [OR] 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.8-6.3) and high odds of unhealthy weight loss behaviors (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.2, 2.6). A linear trend was observed in which young age at first attempted weight loss was associated with increased odds of both BED and unhealthy weight loss behaviors.
Discussion:
Weight loss attempts in childhood may be a risk factor for the development of unhealthy eating behaviors and BED in adults.
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