Abstract
Background
Disordered eating behaviors are prevalent in adolescence and can have harmful consequences.
An important question is whether use of these behaviors in adolescence sets the pattern
for continued use into young adulthood.
Objective
To examine the prevalence and tracking of dieting, unhealthy and extreme weight control
behaviors, and binge eating from adolescence to young adulthood.
Design
Population-based, 10-year longitudinal study (Project EAT-III: Eating Among Teens
and Young Adults, 1999-2010).
Participants/setting
The study population included 2,287 young adults (55% girls, 52% nonwhite). The sample
included a younger group (mean age 12.8±0.7 years at baseline and 23.2±1.0 years at
follow-up) and an older group (mean age 15.9±0.8 at baseline and 26.2±0.9 years at
follow-up).
Statistical analyses performed
Longitudinal trends in prevalence of behaviors were tested using generalized estimating
equations. Tracking of behaviors were estimated using the relative risk of behaviors
at follow-up given presence at baseline.
Results
In general, the prevalence of dieting and disordered eating was high and remained
constant, or increased, from adolescence to young adulthood. Furthermore, behaviors
tended to track within individuals and, in general, participants who engaged in dieting
and disordered eating behaviors during adolescence were at increased risk for these
behaviors 10 years later. Tracking was particularly consistent for the older girls
and boys transitioning from middle adolescence to middle young adulthood.
Conclusions
Study findings indicate that disordered eating behaviors are not just an adolescent
problem, but continue to be prevalent among young adults. The tracking of dieting
and disordered eating within individuals suggests that early use is likely to set
the stage for ongoing use. Findings suggest a need for both early prevention efforts
before the onset of harmful behavioral patterns as well as ongoing prevention and
treatment interventions to address the high prevalence of disordered eating throughout
adolescence and young adulthood.
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Biography
D. Neumark-Sztainer, is a professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Biography
N. I. Larson is a research associate, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Biography
K. Loth is a research assistant, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Biography
M. E. Eisenberg is an assistant professor of pediatrics and adolescent health, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Biography
M. Wall is a professor of biostatistics in psychiatry, Departments of Biostatistics and Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY; at the time of the study, she was a professor, Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 4,
2011
Footnotes
Meets Learning Need Codes 4000, 4160, 5000, and 5200. To take the Continuing Professional Education quiz for this article, log in to ADA's Online Business Center at www.eatright.org/obc, click the “Journal Article Quiz” button, click “Additional Journal CPE Articles,” and select this article's title from a list of available quizzes.
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 American Dietetic Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
