title: Extreme Weight-Control Behaviors and Suicide Risk Among High School Students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suicide is the third leading cause of death for people ages 15-19. Research has established an association across numerous risk factors and suicide, including depression, substance abuse, bullying victimization, and feelings of alienation. However, the connection between disordered eating as manifested in extreme weight-control behaviors (EWCB), and suicidal thoughts, ideation, and attempts among adolescents is less understood. Given the prevalence of adolescent suicide, this investigation examined associations between EWCB and suicide risk among high school students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from a convenience sample of 4178 students in grades 9-12 attending 5 public high schools using the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) questionnaire. Logistic regressions were used to estimate associations between EWCB and suicide controlling for grade level and race, reported separately by sex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students who reported seriously considering suicide had higher odds of exhibiting all 3 EWCBs [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)(male) = 3.0 (confidence interval (CI): 1.4, 6.5); AOR(female) = 4.5 (CI: 2.5, 8.3)]. Moreover, students who reported they made plans about suicide were also more likely to exhibit all EWCBs [AOR(male) = 3.7 (CI: 1.7, 7.9); AOR(female) = 4.2 (CI: 2.3, 7.7)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EWCBs were significantly associated with suicide risk, furthering the evidence suggesting a link between disordered eating and suicide. Findings demonstrated the need for school health services that address disordered eating in the effort to reduce adolescent suicide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education & Behavior, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, PO Box 118210, 1864 Stadium Road, Suite 106K, Gainesville, FL 32611. ejohnson719@hhp.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Emily R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Global and Community Health, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 5B7, Fairfax, VA 22042. rweiler@gmu.edu.
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Weiler
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, PO Box 100175, 1225 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL 32610. tebarnett@phhp.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Tracey E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.affiliation: Hassett Willis, 1100 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005. lpealer@hassettwillis.com.
authors.forename: Lisa N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Pealer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: Youth Risk Behavior Survey; adolescents; health risk; high school students; suicidality; suicide; survey research; teenagers; unhealthy eating; weight-control behaviors