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Abnormal eating behaviors in adolescent and young adult women from southern Brazil: Reassessment after four years

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate whether abnormal eating behaviors in young women could predict eating disorders after 4 years.

Method

56 women were identified as presenting abnormal eating behaviors in a cross-sectional study (Eating Attitudes Test-26 and Edinburgh Bulimic Investigation Test). They were matched for age and neighborhood to two controls (n = 112). Four years later, they were re-assessed with the two screening questionnaires plus the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 2.1).

Results

Women with abnormal eating behaviors at baseline showed a high probability of presenting abnormal eating behaviors but it was not associated with eating disorders 4 years later. They were also at higher risk for obsessive–compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and specific phobia.

Discussion

Abnormal eating behaviors were related to the maintenance of the disturbed behavior over the years, and were associated with increased probability for psychiatric diagnoses.

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Acknowledgments

Maria Angélica Nunes is the recipient of a National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) scholarship. Financial support for field work was provided by the State of São Paulo Research Funding Agency (FAPESP). Professor Mari is a I-A CNPq researcher. We thank Dr. César Gomes Victora for his important contributions to this study. We are grateful the anonymous referees of this paper for their comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Epidemiology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Maria Angélica Nunes PhD

  2. Rua Corrêa Lima 742, CEP 90850-250, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Maria Angélica Nunes PhD

  3. Dept. of Health Science, Universidade Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS, Brazil

    Maria Teresa A. Olinto PhD

  4. Dept. of Statistics, Universidade Federal do RS, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Suzi Camey PhD

  5. Dept. of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Christina Morgan MSc & Jair de Jesus Mari PhD

Authors
  1. Maria Angélica Nunes PhD
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  2. Maria Teresa A. Olinto PhD
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  3. Suzi Camey PhD
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  4. Christina Morgan MSc
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  5. Jair de Jesus Mari PhD
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Correspondence to Maria Angélica Nunes PhD.

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Nunes, M.A., Olinto, M.T.A., Camey, S. et al. Abnormal eating behaviors in adolescent and young adult women from southern Brazil: Reassessment after four years. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 41, 951–956 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0116-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0116-5

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