Weight control practices and disordered eating behaviors among adolescent females and males with type 1 diabetes: associations with sociodemographics, weight concerns, familial factors, and metabolic outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines the prevalence of specific weight control practices/disordered eating behaviors and associations with sociodemographic characteristics, BMI and weight perceptions, family functioning, and metabolic control among adolescent females and males with type 1 diabetes.


METHODS
The study population included 70 adolescent females and 73 adolescent males with type 1 diabetes who completed the AHEAD (Assessing Health and Eating among Adolescents with Diabetes) survey. Data on BMI and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) were drawn from medical records.


RESULTS
Unhealthy weight control practices were reported by 37.9% of the females and by 15.9% of the males. Among the females, 10.3% reported skipping insulin and 7.4% reported taking less insulin to control their weight. Only one male reported doing either of these behaviors. Weight control/disordered eating behaviors were not associated with age, parental level of education, family structure, or race/ethnicity. Higher levels of weight dissatisfaction tended to be associated with unhealthy weight control/disordered eating; associations with BMI were inconsistent. Family cohesion was negatively associated with disordered eating among females (r = -0.52; P < 0.001) and males (r = -0.41; P < 0.001), but correlations with other measures of family environment (control, independence, and responsibility for diabetes management) were not significant. Correlations between disordered eating and HbA(1c) levels were significant among females (r = 0.33; P < 0.01) and males (r = 0.26; P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Special attention is needed for youth with weight concerns and those from less cohesive families to assist in the development of healthy diabetes management behaviors.
Neumark-Sztainer
Dianne
D
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55454, USA. neumark@epi.umn.edu
Patterson
Joan
J
Mellin
Alison
A
Ackard
Diann M
DM
Utter
Jennifer
J
Story
Mary
M
Sockalosky
Joseph
J
D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005192:Family Health; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin