Children with bad eating habits are more likely to suffer from an eating disorder in adolescence

Scientists from the Institute of Child Health at Great Ormond Street Hospital (United Kingdom) have established a link between eating habits during early childhood and possible eating disorders in adolescence.

The research, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, has concluded that Children who 'eat little' during their first years of life are less likely to suffer from anorexia nervosa.

Conversely, Children who eat more calories are more likely to continue eating compulsively in adolescence.

Relationship between eating habits in childhood and adolescence

This English study is the most 'in-depth' analysis that has been carried out on eating disorders in adolescents and their relationship with eating habits in childhood.

The researchers analyzed data from 4,760 participants of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, conducted by the University of Bristol, which includes children born in the southwest of England between 1991 and 1992.

The information provided by parents about their children's eating habits was collected, from the age of nine, and then related to eating disorders that arose at age 16.

One of the main authors of the study, Dr. Moritz Herle, says:

"From an extensive analysis we were able to identify patterns of eating behavior at an early age that may be potential markers of eating disorders later."

And he adds that:

"Our results suggest that children who eat excessively persistently are at greater risk of binge eating in adolescence."

The team also found that Eating little during childhood was associated with a 6% increase (from 2 to 8%) in the risk of anorexia in adolescents, but only in girls. The risk in children who were 'bad eaters' only reached 2%.

Dr. Nadia MicaliLa, another of the authors of the research, explains that "Our study helps us understand who may be at risk of eating disorders and broadens what we know from previous studies."

"Eating disorders are very complex and are influenced by the interactions of biological, behavioral and environmental factors, and this study helps identify some of the mechanisms to modify them."

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Dr. Agnes Ayton, president of the faculty of eating disorders of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, points out the main achievement of this longitudinal analysis:

"This study shows that early identification and intervention targeting childhood eating disorders can reduce the future risk of eating disorders."

Even so, the expert says that "further research is needed to discover the biological, behavioral and environmental risk factors", in order to improve the health outcomes of children and adolescents.

Photos | iStock

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