Eating disorders may persist in adulthood
28 June 2011
Adolescents who have abnormal eating behaviours, including dieting, are at risk of continued problems in early adulthood, a study shows.
US researchers who followed up a group of more than 2200 teens (55 per cent female) found the prevalence of dieting and unhealthy behaviours such as binge eating remained constant over 10 years (Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2011; 111: 1004-11).
Extreme weight control behaviours increased significantly as the group aged, among girls from 8.4 per cent at around age 13 to 20.4 per cent at around age 23.
In individuals, tracking of potentially harmful eating behaviours suggested their use "was not just a phase", the researchers said.
Last Reviewed: 28 June 2011
- 1. Neumark-Sztainer D, Wall M, Larson NI, et al. Dieting and disordered eating behaviors from adolescence to young adulthood: findings from a 10-year longitudinal study. J Am Diet Assoc 2011; 111: 1004-11. http://www.adajournal.org/article/S0002-8223%2811%2900425-1/abstract (accessed Jun 2011).
