Researchers looked at the eating patterns of more than 7000 13-year olds
A new study from the UK reveals that young teens who binge eat and are fearful of weight gain may become overweight later in adolescence. Reportedly, researchers looked for early symptoms of eating disorders in more than 7,000 13-year-olds and found that certain symptoms predicted that these children would have weight problems at 15 years of age.
Girls who engaged in binge eating at 13 had an average increase in body mass index (BMI), a measure of weight relative to height, of 24 percent two years later. Both boys and girls who severely restricted their eating at 13 had lower BMIs when they were two years older.
Dr Nadia Micali led the study from the Institute of Child Health at University College London. The team also looked at links between these symptoms and other aspects of the teens’ social, academic, extracurricular and family lives.
Overall, 63 per cent of girls and 39 per cent of boys were afraid of weight gain or getting fat. Extreme levels of fear of weight gain or concerns about body shape or weight were seen among 11 per cent of girls. Girls apparently avoided fatty foods more often than boys, while boys were more likely to do intense exercise for weight loss.
The researchers report in the Journal of Adolescent Health that even at 13 years of age, overeating and binging was strongly linked to negative impacts on the child’s life and burden to family among both boys and girls.
Binging and overeating were especially linked to emotional and behavioral troubles for both genders. Cutting back on food was linked to mental health disturbances among boys more than girls.
Source: Journal of Adolescent Health
