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Weight suppression and bulimic syndrome maintenance: Preliminary findings for the mediating role of leptin
Author(s) -
Keel Pamela K.,
Bodell Lindsay P.,
HaedtMatt Alissa A.,
Williams Diana L.,
Appelbaum Jonathan
Publication year - 2017
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.22788
Subject(s) - leptin , longitudinal study , mediation , bulimia nervosa , psychology , medicine , weight loss , prospective cohort study , eating disorders , endocrinology , obesity , clinical psychology , pathology , political science , law
Objective Longitudinal studies support a prospective relationship between weight suppression (WS) and bulimic syndrome (BN‐S) maintenance. Although biobehavioral mechanisms have been proposed to explain this link, such mechanisms have yet to be identified. Given that weight loss would reduce leptin levels which may influence eating, this study examined whether reduced leptin levels mediate the link between greater WS and longer illness duration. Method Women ( N = 53), ages 18–45 years, were recruited from the community if they met criteria for a BN‐S, including either DSM‐5 bulimia nervosa (BN; n = 33) or purging disorder (PD: n = 20), and fell within a healthy weight range (18.5–26.5 kg/m 2 ). Participants completed clinical assessments and provided blood samples to measure circulating leptin. Results Significant associations were found among greater WS, lower leptin concentrations, and longer duration of illness. Mediation analyses using bootstrapping procedures indicated all paths were significant and that leptin mediated the link between WS and illness duration. An alternative model in which longer illness duration contributed to leptin, via greater WS, was not supported. Discussion Longitudinal research is needed to support temporal associations and explore behavioral mechanisms linking leptin to illness trajectory.