Objective: To investigate whether abnormal eating behaviors in young women could predict eating disorders after 4 years.
Method: 56 women were identified as presenting abnormal eating behaviors in a cross-sectional study (Eating Attitudes Test-26 and Edinburgh Bulimic Investigation Test). They were matched for age and neighborhood to two controls (n = 112). Four years later, they were re-assessed with the two screening questionnaires plus the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 2.1).
Results: Women with abnormal eating behaviors at baseline showed a high probability of presenting abnormal eating behaviors but it was not associated with eating disorders 4 years later. They were also at higher risk for obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and specific phobia.
Discussion: Abnormal eating behaviors were related to the maintenance of the disturbed behavior over the years, and were associated with increased probability for psychiatric diagnoses.