Disordered eating among adolescents whose parents misuse alcohol: protective and risk factors

Studies show that children of alcoholics constitute an at-risk population. This study attempted to understand the impact of parental alcohol misuse on the disordered eating behaviors of children, based on a sample of 838 teenagers from alcohol-misusing parents in Minnesota. These teenagers had significantly higher prevalence rates of all the seven eating disordered symptoms that were studied. The study also identified a few protective factors: those who did not develop any of the disordered eating symptoms were more satisfied with their present weight and proud of their body. Further, they had less worry of being sexually abused and perceived that their schools were relatively alcohol-free.