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Time trends in obesity and eating disorders
Author(s) -
Zachrisson Henrik Daae,
VedulKjelsås Einar,
Götestam K. Gunnar,
Mykletun Arnstein
Publication year - 2008
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/eat.20565
Subject(s) - eating disorders , obesity , overweight , population , medicine , psychiatry , risk factor , psychology , demography , environmental health , sociology
Objective: Obesity is a well‐known risk factor for eating disorders, and has been increasing in the normal population over the last decades. This study examines whether the increase in obesity is followed by an increase in prevalence of eating disorders in the general female population. Method: We compared the prevalence of eating disorders and obesity in two nationally representative surveys in Norway in 1991 ( n = 1,537) and 2004 ( n = 1,467). Eating disorder diagnoses were obtained using the self‐report questionnaire survey for eating disorders (SEDs) at both time points. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity has doubled from 1991 to 2004, whereas the prevalence of eating disorders has been stable. Obesity was strongly associated with eating disorders both in 1991 and 2004. Conclusion: Despite the strong association between obesity and eating disorders, the increase in obesity is not followed by an increase in eating disorders. © 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2008