Anxiety about Eating Disorders?
A study, performed by Nadia Micali at UCL and others, on almost six thousand 14 and 16 year olds in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) found that all eating disorders (EDs) are predictive of later anxiety disorders. EDs are associated with high morbidity and mortality, and a previous study in America had shown them to be associated with depressive symptoms, drug use, binge drinking, and overweight or obesity. This study was conducted with the aim of finding out whether a range of eating disorders, including purging disorder, were prospectively associated with depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and self-harm. It reported that all were associated with depression, and all but anorexia nervosa predicted drug use and self-harm. Those with anorexia nervosa were more likely to be underweight, but those with binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa were more likely to be overweight or obese. Furthermore, the study found that the prevalence of eating disorders almost doubled between the ages of 14 and 16.
The study recommended improving identification of adolescents with eating disorders and behaviours in the community and delivering early intervention programmes, thereby identifying any risk of development into a full blown eating disorder and also limiting the chances of mental health problems in the future. It has highlighted how much of an effect eating disorders have on the general health of the public, whilst also showing that more needs to be done to curb adolescent eating disorders in order to protect their future.
