Elucidating early pubertal timing effects on disordered eating symptoms in young adult women

Early pubertal timing increases risk for disordered eating (DE) in females, but the extent to which associations persist after puberty and are relevant to all types of DE symptoms is unclear. Factors that link pubertal timing and DE also remain unknown, although leading theories posit that adiposity and body-focused psychosocial factors play a key role. Thus, this study examined pubertal timing effects on several types of DE symptoms in young adult women and evaluated whether body mass index (BMI), pressures for thinness, thin-ideal internalization, and/or history of weight-based teasing account for such associations.

This study included a racially and ethnically diverse sample of 342 female college students (M_age = 20.44, SD = 3.46). Women retrospectively reported their age at onset of menses, which served as the pubertal timing indicator, and completed self-report questionnaires on DE symptoms, perceived pressures for thinness, thin-ideal internalization, and history of weight-based teasing. BMI was calculated from height/weight measurements.

Earlier pubertal timing was associated with body dissatisfaction and binge eating, but not other DE symptoms (dieting, excessive exercise, muscle building) in young adult women. BMI accounted for pubertal timing effects on body dissatisfaction, whereas none of the examined factors explained pubertal timing effects on binge eating.

Earlier pubertal timing may exert long-term effects on only some DE symptoms in women, and the etiologic factors underlying pubertal timing effects on DE outcomes may differ across symptom types.