Sex differences in eating related behaviors and psychopathology among adolescent military dependents at risk for adult obesity and eating disorders.
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Abstract |
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Stressors unique to military families may place dependents of military service members of both sexes at high-risk for disordered-eating. Yet, there are no data examining sex-related differences in eating pathology and distress among this population. Therefore, we examined disordered-eating attitudes and associated psychosocial characteristics in adolescent military dependents at high-risk for both eating disorders and adult obesity (i.e., BMI ≥ 85th percentile and elevated anxiety symptoms and/or loss-of-control eating). One-hundred-twenty-five (55.2% female) adolescent (12-17 y) military dependents were studied prior to entry in an eating disorder and obesity prevention trial. Youth were administered the Eating Disorder Examination interview to determine disordered-eating attitudes, and completed questionnaires to assess self-esteem, social functioning, and depression. Girls and boys did not differ in BMIz (p = .66) or race/ethnicity (p = .997/p = .55). Adjusting for relevant covariates, girls and boys did not differ significantly with regard to disordered-eating global scores (p = .38), self-esteem (p = .23), or social functioning (p = .19). By contrast, girls reported significantly more symptoms of depression (p = .001). Adolescent male and female dependents at high-risk for eating disorders and adult obesity reported comparable levels of eating-related and psychosocial stress. Data are needed to elucidate how adolescent military dependents respond to intervention and whether sex moderates outcome. |
Year of Publication |
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2019
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Journal |
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Eating behaviors
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Volume |
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33
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Number of Pages |
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73-77
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ISSN Number |
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1471-0153
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URL |
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https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1471-0153(18)30345-3
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DOI |
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10.1016/j.eatbeh.2019.04.001
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Short Title |
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Eat Behav
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