Risk factors for Eating Disorders.

Abstract

Objective: The author evaluated the contribution of personal, environmental, dieting and other additional risk factors with eating disorders (ED). Method: It was used a case-control design involving the comparison of 51 (47 female and 4 male) subjects with DSM-IV diagnostic of ED with 1,492 healthy control subjects. All subjects were 12 to 21 y.o. students. A broad range of risk factors was assessed by questionnaire. Results: ED subjects and healthy controls differed in their exposure to the following risk factors: Self-esteem and body (body, weight and shape) satisfaction both were greater in healthy subjects (p < 0.001). Current dieting and impulsiveness as well as current and pre-morbid overweight, consume of drugs, abusing of alcohol and psychological disorder were greater among subjects with ED (p < 0.001). Parental domination, abandonment and criticism; and parental psychological disorder and abuse of alcohol were also significantly greater (p < 0.001) among ED subjects. Discussion: The findings support the hypothesis that ED are the result of exposure to general risk factors for other psychiatric disorders and also risk factors for dieting.