Caffeine intake in eating disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The current study compares caffeine consumption in females with an eating disorder and females without an eating disorder.


METHODS
Caffeine intake in three diagnostic groups (10 females with anorexia nervosa, 27 females with bulimia nervosa, and 42 females with binge eating disorder [BED]) was compared with caffeine intake in three comparison groups (n = 659 each). Data were obtained from a longitudinal study of Black and White girls. Three-day food records were examined for the years before the onset of the eating disorder, the onset year, and the years after the onset of the eating disorder. Data from the same years were used for the comparison groups.


RESULTS
Caffeine intake increased over time between ages 9 and 19 years across all groups and this trend was not moderated by diagnostic status. For anorexia nervosa, relative to the non-eating disorder group, the proportional intake of caffeine from soda increased significantly before onset to onset to after onset and ingestion of chocolate-containing foods decreased sharply over time.


CONCLUSIONS
Caffeine consumption in young girls with eating disorders differs from girls with no eating disorders only for anorexia nervosa, but not for bulimia nervosa or BED.
Striegel-Moore
Ruth H
RH
Department of Psychology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut 06549, USA. rstriegel-moore@weslyan.edu
Franko
Debra L
DL
Thompson
Douglas
D
Barton
Bruce
B
Schreiber
George B
GB
Daniels
Stephen R
SR
D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D015930:Diet Records; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies
D002110:Caffeine