Body weight gain in adolescents can increase the risk of developing an eating disorder

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The risk of developing an eating disorder can increase with obesity and body weight gain in adolescents. Eating disorders can cause serious physical and psychological problems. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the frequency of eating disorders in adolescents and examine the relationship between obesity and weight gain. METHODS: The sample was selected from a population of high school students between the ages of 14–19. The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) was used to determine the frequency of eating disorders. The relationship between anthropometric measurements and the EDE-Q was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 387 students, 67.4% of the sample female, were included in the study. When the students are evaluated according to BMI classification, 74.67% of the students are in the normal category, 16.53% are overweight, and 5.42% are obese. While female students received a total score of 1.36±1.45 on the scale, male students received a score of 0.85±0.97 (p <  0.05). There was a positive correlation between body weight and BMI, EDE-Q’s total score, and sub-dimension scores (p <  0.05). Additionally, the regression analysis revealed that the total score on the scale was significantly associated with body weight and BMI. EDE-Q’s total score increased by 1 unit, there was an increase of approximately 3.01 kg in body weight and 1.19 kg/m2 in BMI. CONCLUSION: In adolescents, the risk of developing an eating disorder can increase with obesity and body weight gain. Early diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders can help prevent long-term health problems.