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Childhood body mass index in adolescent-onset anorexia nervosa

Berkowitz, Staci A. ; A Witt, Ashley ; Gillberg, Christopher ; Råstam, Maria LU orcid ; Wentz, Elisabet and Lowe, Michael R. (2016) In International Journal of Eating Disorders 49(11). p.1002-1009
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
Although weight history is relevant in predicting eating disorder symptom severity, little is known about its role in the etiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). This study aimed to determine whether BMI or BMI trajectory differed between individuals who later developed adolescent-onset AN and a comparison group of HCs between school grades 1 through 6.
METHOD:
This study was based on longitudinal data that identified 51 adolescents with AN and 51 matched HCs. Cases were identified through community screening in Sweden and included individuals born in 1969 through 1977. Measured weights and heights were retrieved and BMIs and weight trajectories of the AN and HC groups were compared using growth curve analysis. Main... (More)
OBJECTIVE:
Although weight history is relevant in predicting eating disorder symptom severity, little is known about its role in the etiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). This study aimed to determine whether BMI or BMI trajectory differed between individuals who later developed adolescent-onset AN and a comparison group of HCs between school grades 1 through 6.
METHOD:
This study was based on longitudinal data that identified 51 adolescents with AN and 51 matched HCs. Cases were identified through community screening in Sweden and included individuals born in 1969 through 1977. Measured weights and heights were retrieved and BMIs and weight trajectories of the AN and HC groups were compared using growth curve analysis. Main outcome measures included measured BMI and BMI trajectories from grades 1-6. Secondary outcomes examined included ponderal index at birth and maternal body weight.
RESULTS:
Individuals who later developed AN had higher BMIs than HCs between grades 1 and 6, by an average of 1.42 BMI-units. There was no difference in rate of weight gain between groups. Ponderal index at birth was higher for the AN as compared with HC group. Maternal weight did not differ significantly between groups.
DISCUSSION:
These findings, combined with those previously reported on the premorbid BMIs of those with bulimia nervosa, suggest that a predisposition toward elevated premorbid BMIs during childhood characterizes those who later develop anorexia or bulimia nervosa. These findings are consistent with a transdiagnostic perspective and suggest shared risk factors for AN and obesity. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.(Int J Eat Disord 2016).
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
anorexia nervosa, body mass index, development, BMI, weight, childhood, adolescent, eating disorders, adolescence
in
International Journal of Eating Disorders
volume
49
issue
11
pages
8 pages
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:84979574413
  • pmid:27464302
  • wos:000388630200003
ISSN
1098-108X
DOI
10.1002/eat.22584
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
20eb7eb2-d1ad-4081-9654-f57a879896a7
date added to LUP
2016-08-31 11:56:21
date last changed
2022-04-01 02:00:17
@article{20eb7eb2-d1ad-4081-9654-f57a879896a7,
  abstract     = {{OBJECTIVE: <br/>Although weight history is relevant in predicting eating disorder symptom severity, little is known about its role in the etiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). This study aimed to determine whether BMI or BMI trajectory differed between individuals who later developed adolescent-onset AN and a comparison group of HCs between school grades 1 through 6.<br/>METHOD: <br/>This study was based on longitudinal data that identified 51 adolescents with AN and 51 matched HCs. Cases were identified through community screening in Sweden and included individuals born in 1969 through 1977. Measured weights and heights were retrieved and BMIs and weight trajectories of the AN and HC groups were compared using growth curve analysis. Main outcome measures included measured BMI and BMI trajectories from grades 1-6. Secondary outcomes examined included ponderal index at birth and maternal body weight.<br/>RESULTS: <br/>Individuals who later developed AN had higher BMIs than HCs between grades 1 and 6, by an average of 1.42 BMI-units. There was no difference in rate of weight gain between groups. Ponderal index at birth was higher for the AN as compared with HC group. Maternal weight did not differ significantly between groups.<br/>DISCUSSION: <br/>These findings, combined with those previously reported on the premorbid BMIs of those with bulimia nervosa, suggest that a predisposition toward elevated premorbid BMIs during childhood characterizes those who later develop anorexia or bulimia nervosa. These findings are consistent with a transdiagnostic perspective and suggest shared risk factors for AN and obesity. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.(Int J Eat Disord 2016).<br/>}},
  author       = {{Berkowitz, Staci A. and A Witt, Ashley and Gillberg, Christopher and Råstam, Maria and Wentz, Elisabet and Lowe, Michael R.}},
  issn         = {{1098-108X}},
  keywords     = {{anorexia nervosa, body mass index, development, BMI, weight, childhood, adolescent, eating disorders, adolescence}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{11}},
  pages        = {{1002--1009}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Eating Disorders}},
  title        = {{Childhood body mass index in adolescent-onset anorexia nervosa}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eat.22584}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/eat.22584}},
  volume       = {{49}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}