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Body image and eating behavior in young adults born preterm
Author(s) -
Matinolli HannaMaria,
Männistö Satu,
SipolaLeppänen Marika,
Tikanmäki Marjaana,
Hein Kati,
Lahti Jari,
Lahti Marius,
Wehkalampi Karoliina,
Järvelin MarjoRiitta,
Andersson Sture,
Lano Aulikki,
Vartia Timo,
Wolke Dieter,
Eriksson Johan G,
Vääräsmäki Marja,
Räikkönen Katri,
Kajantie Eero
Publication year - 2016
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.22553
Subject(s) - gestational age , eating disorder inventory , eating disorders , young adult , birth weight , cohort , pediatrics , medicine , cohort study , gestation , psychology , bulimia nervosa , demography , pregnancy , psychiatry , genetics , sociology , biology
Objective Previous studies have suggested that people born preterm have increased rates of eating disorders (ED). However, a recent study suggested lower levels of ED‐related symptoms in the extreme group of adults born preterm with very low birth weight (<1,500 g). We examined symptoms related to EDs in adults born early (<34 weeks of gestational age) or late (34 to <37 weeks of gestational age) preterm. Methods We studied young adults (mean age 24.1 years) from two birth cohorts: ESTER (Northern Finland 1985–1989) and AYLS (Uusimaa, Finland, 1985–1986). Of the participants, 185 were born early preterm, 348 late preterm, and 637 were term‐born controls ( N = 1,170). They completed three subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI)−2, including Drive for Thinness (DT), Body Dissatisfaction (BD), and Bulimia (B). Group differences were examined by linear regression. Results Young women born early preterm scored 4.1 points (95% CI −8.0, −0.2, P =.04) lower in summed EDI subscale scores than women born at term, when adjusted for age and cohort. This difference was observed also in DT and BD but not for B subscales. The differences persisted after adjustments for current, pre‐ and neonatal characteristics. We did not observe differences in EDI scores among men or women born late preterm when compared to controls. Discussion Women born early preterm have significantly fewer symptoms related to EDs in early adulthood when compared to their peers born at term, which may protect from developing an ED. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:572–580)