Predictors and long-term health outcomes of eating disorders

PLoS One. 2017 Jul 10;12(7):e0181104. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181104. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Anorexia and bulimia nervosa may have long-term effects on overall and reproductive health. We studied predictors of self-reported eating disorders and associations with later health events. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) for these associations in 47,759 participants from the Sister Study. Two percent (n = 967) of participants reported a history of an eating disorder. Risk factors included being non-Hispanic white, having well-educated parents, recent birth cohort (OR = 2.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.01-2.32 per decade), and having a sister with an eating disorder (OR = 3.68, CI: 1.92-7.02). As adults, women who had experienced eating disorders were more likely to smoke, to be underweight, to have had depression, to have had a later first birth, to have experienced bleeding or nausea during pregnancy, or to have had a miscarriage or induced abortion. In this descriptive analysis, we identified predictors of and possible long-term health consequences of eating disorders. Eating disorders may have become more common over time. Interventions should focus on prevention and mitigation of long-term adverse health effects.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anorexia Nervosa / complications
  • Anorexia Nervosa / physiopathology
  • Bulimia Nervosa / complications
  • Bulimia Nervosa / physiopathology
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / complications*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / etiology
  • Pregnancy Complications / physiopathology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors