The Changing Demographic Profile of Eating Disorder Behaviors in the Community

Overview

Journal BMC Public Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Public Health

Date 2014 Sep 13

PMID 25213544

Citations 91

Authors

Deborah Mitchison

Phillipa Hay

Shameran Slewa-Younan

Jonathan Mond

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The perception that eating disorders occur predominantly in young white upper-class women has been challenged. This study examined temporal differences to the demographic correlates of eating disorder behaviors over a 10-year period.

Methods: Data from cross-sectional general population surveys in 1998 (n = 3010) and 2008 (n = 3034) were collected on demographics (sex, age, income, residency), current eating disorder behaviors (binge eating, extreme dieting, purging), and health-related quality of life (SF-36).

Results: Below-median annual household income was associated with increased prevalence rates from 1998 to 2008 in binge eating, extreme dieting, and purging. Male sex was associated with increased prevalence rates in extreme dieting and purging. Age over 45 years was associated with increased prevalence rates in purging. In 2008 versus 1998, binge eating was associated with greater mental health-related quality of life impairment in males but not females; and greater physical health-related quality of life impairment in regional but not metropolitan areas. Extreme dieting was also associated with greater physical health-related quality of life impairment in 2008 versus 1998 in the lower but not the higher socioeconomic sector.

Conclusions: Findings suggest the 'democratization' of disordered eating, with greatest levels of associated impairment being within marginalized demographic sectors. Implications include the need for broader intervention programs and recruitment of demographically representative samples in eating disorder research.

Citing Articles

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Internalized Transnegativity, Self-Warmth, Self-Coldness, and Eating Disorder Symptomatology Among Transgender and Nonbinary Adults.

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Adaptations to family-based treatment for Medicaid-insured adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

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Mapping eating disorders in adolescents and young adults: an investigation of geographic distribution and access to care in Ontario, Canada.

Pang N, Nagata J, Testa A, Ganson K J Eat Disord. 2024; 12(1):136.

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