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Weight factors in normal weight bulimia nervosa: A controlled family study
Author(s) -
Yates William R.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/1098-108x(199204)11:3<227::aid-eat2260110305>3.0.co;2-x
Subject(s) - dieting , bulimia nervosa , psychology , overweight , proband , daughter , weight loss , obesity , family history , weight gain , body mass index , risk factor , eating disorders , medicine , body weight , psychiatry , endocrinology , genetics , evolutionary biology , biology , mutation , gene
Normal weight bulimia nervosa (BN) is often clinically associated with weight control problems, frequent dieting, weight loss, and weight gain. However, few controlled research studies have evaluated the role of personal and familial weight history as risk factors for normal weight BN. Jo evaluate the role of body weight as a risk factor for normal weight BN we evaluated 25 women with DSM‐III‐R BN and 25 non‐bulimic age‐ and weight‐matched controls for personal and family history of being overweight, obesity, and weight variability. BN probands had larger historical body mass indices (BMI) and larger lifetime BMI variability than control probands. Proband fathers did not differ in weight histories between case and control families. Mothers of bulimic probands were more likely to report larger current BMI compared to control mothers. Bulimic mothers also have reports of heavier maximum BMI than control mothers. Intrafamitial weight correlations for weight control problems were found between mother‐daughter BN pairs. This study suggests a role for personal and familial weight factors in the etiology of normal weight BN with specific familial mother‐daughter transmission of weight control problems.