Association between low height and eating disorders: cause or effect?
OBJECTIVE
Few studies have explored the relationship between stature and eating disorders (ED). We aimed to investigate the connection between height and risk for ED in a cohort of female subjects.


METHODS
The sample was composed of 1,031 subjects with ED and 832 controls. All participants belonged to the same birth cohort and were living in the same geographical area.


RESULTS
ED subjects were, on average, shorter than control subjects, independently from the age of onset. In early-onset anorexia nervosa only, age of onset and lowest body mass index were significant predictors of height. In the whole sample, a lower height was associated with an increased risk of having an ED, even after controlling for possible confounding variables.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between EDs and low stature is statistically significant. Further studies are necessary to understand which genetic and/or environmental factors might explain this association.
Favaro
Angela
A
Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Tenconi
Elena
E
Degortes
Daniela
D
Soave
Manuela
M
Zanetti
Tatiana
T
Nardi
Maria T
MT
Caregaro
Lorenza
L
Santonastaso
Paolo
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors