Abstract
ABSTRACTObjective To identify the association between perinatal/neonatal factors and symptoms of eating disorders among college students.Methods Four hundred and eight college students (283 women), aged 18 to 23 years old, enrolled in the first semester of a Bachelor of Health Science degree program were included in the sample. Eating disorder symptoms and body image dissatisfaction were assessed with the Eating Attitudes Test and Bulimic Investigatory Test of Edinburgh. Information regarding birth weight, breastfeeding, obstetric complications, mother’s age at delivery, type of delivery, and birth order were self-reported by the volunteers after consulting their parents. Association between perinatal and neonatal factors and symptoms of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa were assessed by binary logistic regression adjusted for sex, age, and body mass index.Results The likelihood of presenting with symptoms of anorexia nervosa was 0.5 time lower for those students born from the oldest mothers (odds ratio – OR=0.37; 95% confidence interval – 95%CI: 0.17-0.83). Relative to bulimia nervosa, the risk was higher among students who reported obstetric complications (OR=2.62; 95%CI: 1.03-6.67).Conclusion We observed the association between perinatal and neonatal factors with symptoms of eating disorders in college students.
Highlights
It is well established that perinatal and neonatal environment may predict the likelihood of psychiatric disorders,(5-7) cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases,(3,8) and are involved in the etiopathogenesis of obesity.[9]. In this way, it is feasible to hypothesize that they may occur in the etiology of eating disorders (ED)
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV),(16) anorexia nervosa is characterized by an intense fear of weight gain or becoming fat, body image distortion, and amenorrhea; bulimia nervosa is categorized by recurrent episodes of binge eating, sense of lack of control over eating during the episode, recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior in order to gain weight, such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications
Our study indicates that birth weight, breastfeeding, type of delivery, and birth order do not influence the likelihood for ED symptomatology
Summary
In the late 1980s, Barker et al[1] were pioneers in showing that low birth weight was associated with increased risk of death in adulthood, and since it has been hypothesized that intrauterine environment, as well as the early development period are responsible for. It is well established that perinatal and neonatal environment may predict the likelihood of psychiatric disorders,(5-7) cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases,(3,8) and are involved in the etiopathogenesis of obesity.[9] In this way, it is feasible to hypothesize that they may occur in the etiology of eating disorders (ED). Despite the relevance of ED to Public Health, only few studies addressed the interplay between perinatal/ neonatal factors and ED, and were carried out on clinical populations.[9,10,11] The current literature neglects individuals vulnerable to developing ED,(17) and it is well known that college is a critical period for onset of ED.[18]
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