Associations between adolescent risk for restrictive disordered eating and long‐term outcomes related to somatic symptoms, body mass index, and poor well‐being. Issue 2 (18th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Landstedt, Evelina; Hammarström, Anne; Fairweather‐Schmidt, A. Kate; Wade, Tracey
• Is Part Of: British journal of health psychology. Volume 23:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 496
• Page End: 518
• Publication Date: 2018-02-18
• Subjects: disordered eating -- longitudinal -- adolescence -- quality of life -- body mass index -- youth -- cohort study -- psychosomatic health; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12301
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-107X

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To date, no longitudinal, community‐based studies have examined the association between disordered eating emerging in adolescence and long‐term physical well‐being. This study sought to explore the longitudinal associations between risk for restrictive disordered eating (DE‐R; those not presenting with binge–purge symptoms) in adolescence and trajectories of functional somatic symptoms (FSS) and body mass index (BMI), and several indicators of poor physical well‐being across early‐ to mid‐adulthood, including medication, number of doctor visits, and sick leave. Design: Data were obtained from the Northern Swedish Cohort Study ( N = 1, 001), a prospective longitudinal study including four time points from age 16 to 42 years. Methods: A cumulative measure of DE‐R risk was computed. Latent class growth analysis was used to identify subpopulation trajectories of FSS and BMI. The three‐step method for auxiliary variables and logistic regressions were used to assess associations between DE‐R and the trajectory classes as well as indicators of poor physical well‐being. Results: Three trajectories were identified for FSS. A gender by BMI interaction led to a classification of four BMI trajectories in men, but three in women. The presence of DE‐R risk in adolescence increased odds of unfavourable FSS development, increasing BMI in women, and continually low BMI in men. Indicators of poor physical well‐being at ages 21, 30, and 42 years were associated with DE‐R risk in adolescence. Conclusions: Data spanning nearly three decades suggest that physical well‐being impairment is related to DE‐R risk measured earlier in life, underscoring the urgency for targeted, gender‐sensitive preventive interventions for teenagers. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Disordered eating is linked to poor physical and mental well‐being and quality of life. No longitudinal studies have examined long‐term physical well‐being consequences of adolescent disordered eating risk. What does this study add? Non‐purging disordered eating symptoms in adolescence predict adverse physical well‐being outcomes in middle‐aged men and women. Targeted interventions and preventative work during adolescence are needed.