0
March 1992, Vol 146, No. 3 >
Article | March 1992

Is Puberty a Risk Factor for Eating Disorders? FREE

Joel D. Killen, PhD; Chris Hayward, MD, MPH; Iris Litt, MD; Lawrence D. Hammer, MD; Darrell M. Wilson, MD; Beverly Miner, MA; C. Barr Taylor, MD; Ann Varady, MA; Catherine Shisslak, PhD
[+] Author Affiliations

Accepted for publication November 18, 1991.

Reprint requests to Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention, Adolescent Health Research Group, 1000 Welch Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94304 (Dr Killen).


Am J Dis Child. 1992;146(3):323-325. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1992.02160150063023.
Text Size: A A A
Published online
Article
References
Comments

• Objective.  —To examine the association between stage of sexual maturation and eating disorder symptoms in a community-based sample of adolescent girls.

Participants.  —All sixth- and seventh-grade girls (N = 971) enrolled in four northern California middle schools.

Main Variables Examined.  —Pubertal development measured using self-reported Tanner stage and body mass index (kg/m2). The section of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Disorders (SCID) discussing bulimia nervosa was used to evaluate symptoms of bulimia nervosa.

Results.  —Girls manifesting eating disorder symptoms, while not significantly older than their peers without such symptoms, were more developmentally advanced as determined with Tanner self-staging. The odds ratio for the association between sexual maturity and symptoms was 1.8 (95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 2.8); ie, at each age, an increase in sexual maturity of a single point was associated with a 1.8-fold increase in the odds of presenting symptoms. The odds ratio for the association between body mass index (adjusted for sexual maturity) and symptoms was 1.02 (95% confidence interval, 1.0 to 1.05). There was no independent effect of age or of the interaction between age and the sexual maturity index.

Conclusions.  —These results suggest that (1) puberty may be a risk factor for the development of eating disorders, and (2) prevention efforts might best be directed at prepubertal and peripubertal adolescents.(AJDC. 1992;146:323-325)

REFERENCES

1 +
Herzog DB, Copeland PM.  Eating disorders . N Engl J Med . 1985;;313:295-303.
2 +
Health and Public Policy Committee, ACP.  Eating disorders: anorexia nervosa and bulimia . Ann Intern Med . 1986;;105:790-794.
3 +
Fairburn CG, Beglin SJ.  Studies of the epidemiology of bulimia nervosa . Am J Psychiatry . 1990;;4:402-408.
4 +
Johnson-Sabine E, Wood K, Patton G, Mann A, Wakeling A.  Abnormal eating attitudes in London schoolgirls—a prospective epidemiological study: factors associated with abnormal response on screening questionnaires . Psychol Med . 1988;;18:615-622.
5 +
Striegel-Moore RH, Silberstein LR, Rodin J.  Toward an understanding of risk factors for bulimia . Am Psychol . 1986;;41:246-263.
6 +
Tanner JM. Growth at Adolescence . 2nd ed. Boston, Mass: Black-well Scientific Publications Inc; 1962;.
7 +
Gross RT, Duke PM.  The effect of early versus late physical maturation on adolescent behavior . Pediatr Clin North Am Adolesc Med . 1980;;27:71-78.
8 +
Pugliese MT, Lifshitz F, Grad G, Fort P, Marks-Katz M.  Fear of obesity . N Engl J Med . 1983;;309:513-518.
9 +
Kozinetz CA.  Self-assessed female maturation stages: a research tool . Hum Biol . 1988;;60:293-303.
10 +
Duke PM, Litt IF, Gross RT.  Adolescents' self-assessment of sexual maturation . Pediatrics . 1980;;66:918-920.
11 +
Morris NM, Udry JR.  Validation of a self-administered instrument to assess stage of adolescent development . J Youth Adolescence . 1980;;9:271-279.
12 +
Frankowski P, Duke-Duncan P, Guillot A, McDougal D, Wasserman R, Young P.  Young adolescents' self-assessment of sexual maturation . AJDC . 1987;;141:385.
13 +
Brooks-Gunn J, Peterson A. Girls at Puberty . New York, NY: Plenum Publishing Corp; 1983;.
14 +
Keys A, Flaminio F, Karvonen MJ, Kimura N, Taylor HL.  Indices of relative weight and obesity . J Chronic Dis . 1972;;25:329-343.
15 +
Killeen J, Vanderburg D, Harlan WR.  Application of weight-height ratios and body indices to juvenile populations: the national health examination survey data . J Chronic Dis . 1978;;31:529-537.
16 +
Kraemer HC, Berkowitz RI, Hammer LD.  Methodological difficulties in studies of obesity, I: measurement issues . Ann Behav Med . 1990;;12:112-118.
17 +
Spitzer RL, Williams JBW, Gibbon M. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R—Nonpatient Version . New York, NY: Biometrics Research Department, New York State Psychiatric Institute; 1987;:H1-H4.
18 +
Wilson DM, Kraemer HC, Ritter PL, Hammer LD.  Growth curves and adult height estimation for adolescents with early and late puberty . AJDC . 1987;;141:565-570.
19 +
Rapoport JL.  Childhood obsessive compulsive disorder . J Child Psychol Psychiatry . 1986;;27:289-296.
20 +
Rutter M.  The developmental psychopathology of depression . In: Rutter M, Izard C, Read P, eds. Depression in Young People . New York, NY: Guilford Press; 1986;:3-30.
21 +
Killen JD, Taylor C, Telch MJ, Saylor KE, Maron DJ, Robinson TN.  Self-induced vomiting and laxatives and diuretics use among teenagers: precursors of the binge-purge syndrome? JAMA . 1986;;255:1447-1449.
22 +
Shisslak C, Crago M.  Primary prevention of eating disorders . J Consult Clin Psychol . 1987;;55:660-667.

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

Video

Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

References

1 +
Herzog DB, Copeland PM.  Eating disorders . N Engl J Med . 1985;;313:295-303.
2 +
Health and Public Policy Committee, ACP.  Eating disorders: anorexia nervosa and bulimia . Ann Intern Med . 1986;;105:790-794.
3 +
Fairburn CG, Beglin SJ.  Studies of the epidemiology of bulimia nervosa . Am J Psychiatry . 1990;;4:402-408.
4 +
Johnson-Sabine E, Wood K, Patton G, Mann A, Wakeling A.  Abnormal eating attitudes in London schoolgirls—a prospective epidemiological study: factors associated with abnormal response on screening questionnaires . Psychol Med . 1988;;18:615-622.
5 +
Striegel-Moore RH, Silberstein LR, Rodin J.  Toward an understanding of risk factors for bulimia . Am Psychol . 1986;;41:246-263.
6 +
Tanner JM. Growth at Adolescence . 2nd ed. Boston, Mass: Black-well Scientific Publications Inc; 1962;.
7 +
Gross RT, Duke PM.  The effect of early versus late physical maturation on adolescent behavior . Pediatr Clin North Am Adolesc Med . 1980;;27:71-78.
8 +
Pugliese MT, Lifshitz F, Grad G, Fort P, Marks-Katz M.  Fear of obesity . N Engl J Med . 1983;;309:513-518.
9 +
Kozinetz CA.  Self-assessed female maturation stages: a research tool . Hum Biol . 1988;;60:293-303.
10 +
Duke PM, Litt IF, Gross RT.  Adolescents' self-assessment of sexual maturation . Pediatrics . 1980;;66:918-920.
11 +
Morris NM, Udry JR.  Validation of a self-administered instrument to assess stage of adolescent development . J Youth Adolescence . 1980;;9:271-279.
12 +
Frankowski P, Duke-Duncan P, Guillot A, McDougal D, Wasserman R, Young P.  Young adolescents' self-assessment of sexual maturation . AJDC . 1987;;141:385.
13 +
Brooks-Gunn J, Peterson A. Girls at Puberty . New York, NY: Plenum Publishing Corp; 1983;.
14 +
Keys A, Flaminio F, Karvonen MJ, Kimura N, Taylor HL.  Indices of relative weight and obesity . J Chronic Dis . 1972;;25:329-343.
15 +
Killeen J, Vanderburg D, Harlan WR.  Application of weight-height ratios and body indices to juvenile populations: the national health examination survey data . J Chronic Dis . 1978;;31:529-537.
16 +
Kraemer HC, Berkowitz RI, Hammer LD.  Methodological difficulties in studies of obesity, I: measurement issues . Ann Behav Med . 1990;;12:112-118.
17 +
Spitzer RL, Williams JBW, Gibbon M. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R—Nonpatient Version . New York, NY: Biometrics Research Department, New York State Psychiatric Institute; 1987;:H1-H4.
18 +
Wilson DM, Kraemer HC, Ritter PL, Hammer LD.  Growth curves and adult height estimation for adolescents with early and late puberty . AJDC . 1987;;141:565-570.
19 +
Rapoport JL.  Childhood obsessive compulsive disorder . J Child Psychol Psychiatry . 1986;;27:289-296.
20 +
Rutter M.  The developmental psychopathology of depression . In: Rutter M, Izard C, Read P, eds. Depression in Young People . New York, NY: Guilford Press; 1986;:3-30.
21 +
Killen JD, Taylor C, Telch MJ, Saylor KE, Maron DJ, Robinson TN.  Self-induced vomiting and laxatives and diuretics use among teenagers: precursors of the binge-purge syndrome? JAMA . 1986;;255:1447-1449.
22 +
Shisslak C, Crago M.  Primary prevention of eating disorders . J Consult Clin Psychol . 1987;;55:660-667.

Correspondence

Submit a Letter
CME
Accreditation Information
The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The AMA designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM per course. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Physicians who complete the CME course and score at least 80% correct on the quiz are eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
Clear Answers | Save For Later
You have not filled in all the answers to complete this quiz
The following questions were not answered:
Sorry, you have unsuccessfully completed this CME quiz with a score of
The following questions were not answered correctly:
Commitment to Change (optional):
Indicate what change(s) you will implement in your practice, if any, based on this CME course.
Your quiz results:
The filled radio buttons indicate your responses. The preferred responses are highlighted
For CME Course: A Proposed Model for Initial Assessment and Management of Acute Heart Failure Syndromes
Indicate what changes(s) you will implement in your practice, if any, based on this CME course.
NOTE:
Citing articles are presented as examples only. In non-demo SCM6 implementation, integration with CrossRef’s “Cited By” API will populate this tab (http://www.crossref.org/citedby.html).
Compression-Only CPR: Pushing the Science Forward
Cone
AAM 2010;304:1493-1495.
All you need to read in the other general journals
BMJ 2010;341:c5893-c1494.
Submit a Comment

Some tools below are only available to our subscribers or users with an online account.

Related Content

Customize your page view by dragging & repositioning the boxes below.

© 2013 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
Powered bySilverchair Information Systems