Comparing the health burden of eating-disordered behavior and overweight in women.
OBJECTIVE
We compared the health burden of eating-disordered behavior with that of overweight in a community-based sample of women aged 18-42 years residing in the Australian Capital Territory region of Australia. Participants (n = 4643) completed self-report measures of eating disorder psychopathology, health-related quality of life and health service utilization. Body mass index (BMI) was derived from self-reported height and weight.


RESULTS
Overweight was associated with marked impairment in physical health functioning and comparatively little impairment in psychosocial functioning, whereas eating-disordered behavior was associated with marked impairment in psychosocial functioning and comparatively little impairment in physical health functioning. Further, (1) impairment in psychosocial functioning associated with eating-disordered behavior was greater than impairment in physical health functioning associated with overweight, and (2) impairment in physical health functioning associated with eating-disordered behavior was greater than impairment in psychosocial functioning associated with overweight. Overweight and eating-disordered behavior were associated with similarly elevated rates of primary care consultations during the past 6 months and of lifetime treatment from a health professional for an eating or weight problem.


CONCLUSIONS
In young adult women, the health burden of eating-disordered behavior may be more substantial than previously recognized. Better information concerning the spectrum of disordered eating that exists at the population level needs to be made available. Eating-disordered behavior warrants greater attention when considering the public health burden of obesity and in developing programs to reduce this burden.
Mond
Jonathan M
JM
School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, Australia. j.mond@latrobe.edu.au
Hay
Phillipa J
PJ
Rodgers
Bryan
B
Owen
Cathy
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017281:Cost of Illness; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult