title: Earlier predictors of eating disorder symptoms in 9-year-old children. A longitudinal study.
abstract: The aim of the study was to examine predictors of eating disorder symptoms in a population based sample at the earliest age at which they can be measured using the Children's Eating Attitudes Test. Data were collected from the longitudinal Gateshead Millennium Study cohort; 609 children participated in the 7 year data sweep (and their mothers and teachers), and 589 children participated in the 9 year data sweep. Eating disorder symptoms at 9 years were higher in boys, and in children from more deprived families. Higher eating disorder symptoms were associated with more body dissatisfaction at 9 years. Higher symptoms were predicted by higher levels of dietary restraint and of emotional symptoms, but not greater body dissatisfaction, 2 years earlier. The study showed that some correlates of high eating disorder symptoms found in adolescents and adults are also found in children, before the rise in diagnosable eating disorders over the pubertal period.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Human Nutrition Research Centre, Room M1 151, 1(st) Floor William Leech Building, Framlington Place, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK. kathryn.parkinson@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Kathryn N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Parkinson
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Drewett
authors.forename: Ann S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Le Couteur
authors.forename: Ashley J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Adamson
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D001828:Body Image; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires