Teen Daughters of Military Members at Higher Risk for Eating Disorders

the Endocrinology Advisor take:

Teenage girls of U.S. military members may have a higher risk for eating disorders and associated problems, like potential obesity, than those of civilians, according to data published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.

For the study, Marian Tanofsky-Kraff, PhD, of the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences' F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, and colleagues evaluated 23 adolescent military dependents who were overweight and 105 age- and BMI-matched civilian peers.

Participants completed interview and questionnaire assessments of eating-related and general psychopathology, and the researchers also measured metabolic function.

Compared with civilians, military dependents reported more binge eating episodes during the previous 3 months. Additionally 17% of military dependents met criteria for binge eating disorder vs. only 2% of civilians, according to the data.

Moreover, military dependents reported more concerns about shape, weight and eating as well as greater depressive symptoms than their civilian peers.

Results indicated that military dependents may also be more likely to have clinically significant insulin resistance, as compared with civilians.

“Previous research suggests that military dependents may face additional stressors compared to their civilian peers,” lead study author Natasha Schvey, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology at USU, said in a press release. 

“The present study suggests that even when girls are matched on known risk factors for obesity and eating disorders, adolescent military dependents may be at greater risk for poor physical and psychological outcomes.”

These findings may demonstrate the unique vulnerability of military dependents and highlight a need to assess military dependents for eating-related and general psychopathology, the researchers noted.