title: The changing demographic profile of eating disorder behaviors in the community.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The perception that eating disorders occur predominantly in young white upper-class women has been challenged. This study examined temporal differences to the demographic correlates of eating disorder behaviors over a 10-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from cross-sectional general population surveys in 1998 (n = 3010) and 2008 (n = 3034) were collected on demographics (sex, age, income, residency), current eating disorder behaviors (binge eating, extreme dieting, purging), and health-related quality of life (SF-36).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Below-median annual household income was associated with increased prevalence rates from 1998 to 2008 in binge eating, extreme dieting, and purging. Male sex was associated with increased prevalence rates in extreme dieting and purging. Age over 45 years was associated with increased prevalence rates in purging. In 2008 versus 1998, binge eating was associated with greater mental health-related quality of life impairment in males but not females; and greater physical health-related quality of life impairment in regional but not metropolitan areas. Extreme dieting was also associated with greater physical health-related quality of life impairment in 2008 versus 1998 in the lower but not the higher socioeconomic sector.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest the 'democratization' of disordered eating, with greatest levels of associated impairment being within marginalized demographic sectors. Implications include the need for broader intervention programs and recruitment of demographically representative samples in eating disorder research.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. d.mitchison@uws.edu.au.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mitchison
authors.forename: Phillipa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hay
authors.forename: Shameran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Slewa-Younan
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mond
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D002032:Bulimia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography / Q000639:trends; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000009:adverse effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult