Association of a history of childhood-onset obesity and dieting with eating disorders

This was a retrospective, observational chart review conducted on
a convenience sample of 537 outpatients, aged 16-60 years,
referred to an Italian Dietetic and Nutrition University Center. The
study aimed to look at the association between a history of childhood
obesity and dieting behaviors with development of eating
disorders (EDs) at a later age. Subjects with a history of EDs
(n = 118), assessed using both self-report and health records,
were compared with those with no EDs (n = 419), who were
attending the clinic mainly for primary prevention of metabolic
and cardiovascular risk. Logistic regression analysis was performed
to assess the association of childhood-onset obesity with development
of an ED at a later age. Childhood-onset obesity, gender,
maternal history of eating disorders, and dieting were associated
with a positive history of EDs at a later age (p < .05). It is important
to raise professional awareness of early symptoms of EDs in
children with a history of obesity and treat them accordingly.