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Twenty-year associations between disordered eating behaviors and sociodemographic features in a multiple cross-sectional sample

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 July 2022

Danilo Dias Santana Open the ORCID record for Danilo Dias Santana [Opens in a new window] ,
Deborah Mitchison ,
Haider Mannan ,
Scott Griffiths ,
Jose Carlos Appolinario ,
Gloria Valeria da Veiga ,
Stephen Touyz  and
Phillipa Hay
Danilo Dias Santana*
Affiliation:
Josué de Castro Institute of Nutrition, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil School of Medicine, Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, New South Wales, Australia
Deborah Mitchison
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, New South Wales, Australia Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals, SWSLHD, New South Wales, Australia
Haider Mannan
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, New South Wales, Australia
Scott Griffiths
Affiliation:
Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Jose Carlos Appolinario
Affiliation:
Group of Obesity and Eating Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Gloria Valeria da Veiga
Affiliation:
Josué de Castro Institute of Nutrition, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Stephen Touyz
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Phillipa Hay
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, New South Wales, Australia Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals, SWSLHD, New South Wales, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Danilo Dias Santana, E-mail: dias.danilo@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Background

Disordered eating behaviors (DEB) impact on health and wellbeing worldwide. This study aimed to examine sociodemographic trends in the prevalence of DEB over 20 years in the Australian general population.

Methods

Data were derived from five sequential cross-sectional surveys (1998, 2008, 2009, 2016 and 2017) with population-representative samples of adults and adolescents residing in South Australia (N = 15 075). DEBs investigated were objective binge eating (OBE), strict dieting/fasting, and purging. Sociodemographic data included gender, age, educational level, work and marital status, and residence.

Results

OBE prevalence increased significantly. Strict dieting/fasting also increased from 1998 to 2008/9 but remained stable between 2008/9 and 2016/7. Purging prevalence did not change significantly over time. All survey years were associated with a significantly higher odds of OBE, and strict diet/fasting compared to 1998. Lower age, a higher Accessibility Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) score, higher body mass index (BMI), higher educational attainment, and not being in a married or de facto relationship were independently associated with greater adjusted odds for endorsing OBE. Younger age, female gender, and higher BMI were also independently associated with greater adjusted odds for endorsing strict dieting/fasting.

Conclusions

The increased prevalence of DEBs in various strata of Australian society has both public health and clinical implications. The results refute the stereotype that eating disorders (EDs) predominantly affect young women. They build impetus for future research on EDs among men and older individuals, with a view to developing tailored public health and clinical interventions for these populations.

Keywords

Disordered eating behaviorsepidemiologyobjective binge eatingpurgingsociodemographic featuresstrict dieting
Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 53 , Issue 11 , August 2023 , pp. 5012 - 5021
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Deborah Mitchison and Haider Mannan are jointly the second authors of this manuscript.

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