Girls whose parents and grandparents are highly educated may be at increased risk for developing eating disorders. A Swedish study of more than 13,000 girls found that, as parents' or grandparents education increased, so did the girls risk of being hospitalized for an eating disorder.

"It's possible, the researchers write, that these girls feel more pressure from family to succeed  which for some could translate into an obsession with controlling their eating and body weight. In addition, higher-achieving girls may be more likely to have certain personality traits, such as perfectionism, that make them relatively more vulnerable to eating disorders." (Source: Reuters, Sept. 18, 2009)

Overall, girls whose parents were college-educated were twice as likely to be treated for an eating disorder, Reuters reported, and the risk was six times as high for girls who maternal grandmother was also college-educated.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, education, risks

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A study conducted through the University of Minnesota has identified several factors that increase the risk of eating disorders among overweight teenagers.

University of Minnesota researchers discovered overweight youth with certain socio-environmental, psychological, and behavioral tendencies, such as reading magazine articles about dieting, reporting a lack of family connectedness, placing a high importance on weight, and reporting having participated in unhealthy weight control behaviors, are more likely to suffer from eating disorders. (Source: PsychCentral)

Researchers also discovered that risk factors differed between boys and girls.

• Young girls whose physical activity was at moderate to extreme levels, and who also had lower self-esteem, were a greater risk.
• For young men, risk factors included depressive symptoms and poor eating patterns.
• One common risk factor in both male and female subjects was a lack of family connectedness, leading researchers to encourage parents toward having the whole family spend time together  sharing a meal, a movie or even just a walk outside.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, risks, youth, overweight

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Often, eating disorders are only diagnosed after a person is very thin and very sick. Assessing your eating habits, or the habits of someone you love, early can encourage early intervention.

"People with eating disorders need to seek professional help. Early diagnosis and intervention significantly improves the chance of recovery. If not identified or treated in the early stages, eating disorders can become chronic, debilitating and even life-threatening conditions."

Ask yourself these questions: Do you wish parts of your body looked different? Are you unhappy with your reflection in the mirror? Do you skip meals or obsess about counting calories? Do you exercise to the point of fatigue or injury? If you or someone you know can answer "yes" to these questions, seek help. Source: Akron (OH) Beacon Journal

Labels: causes of eating disorders, risks, eating_habits

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A study conducted by Children's Hospital of Boston found that the risk factors of developing eating disorders are different for boys and girls, and - in girls - these factors change with age. The study followed more than 6,500 girls and 5,500 boys for seven years.

"Binge eating was observed in 4.3 percent of females and 2.1 percent of males, while 5.3 percent of females and 0.8 percent of males began to purge... Having a mother with a history of an eating disorder almost tripled the risk for girls, but only up to the age of 14."

The study also found that negative comments about weight from fathers were strong predictors of binge eating. Source: RN Web

Labels: causes of eating disorders, risks, influences

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A new study conducted through the University of Virginia has found that girls with ADHD are more likely than their non-ADHD counterparts to develop the bulimia-related behaviors of binge eating and purging.

"'Girls with ADHD may be more at risk of developing eating problems as adolescents because they already have impulsive behaviors that can set them apart from their peers,' [psychologist Amori Yee] Mikami said. 'As they get older, their impulsivity may make it difficult for them to maintain healthy eating and a healthy weight, resulting in self-consciousness about their body image and the binging and purging symptoms.'"

This is one of the few studies that have focused on ADHD's possible long-term effects on girls. Mikami, the study's lead author, warned parents and teachers to be watching for "female-relevant" issues that may be more prevalent in girls with ADHD. Read more at RedOrbit.com.

Learn more about girls and ADHD with the Giving Girls the Attention They Need
What Parents Need to Know About Girls and ADD/ADHD primer.

Labels: risks, girls, adhd

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Though it's not a medical term, nor is it a recognized disorder, the term "diabulimia" has been created to describe the practice of skipping insulin shots in order to lose weight. An estimated 450,000 people who have Type 1 diabetes are said to have resorted this dangerous weight loss tactic.

"Warning signs for diabulimia include a change in eating habits - typically someone who eats more but still loses weight - low energy and high blood-sugar levels... Frequent urination is another signal. When sugars are high, the kidneys work overtime to filter the excess glucose from the blood."

The dangers of skipping or reducing insulin intake are extreme for someone with Type 1 diabetes. Risks include falling into a coma, blindness, amputation, kidney failure and even death.

Read more at BeloitDailyNews.com.

Labels: risks, death, diabetes

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