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Differences in risk factors for binge eating by socioeconomic status in a community‐based sample of adolescents: Findings from Project EAT
Author(s) -
West Caroline E.,
Goldschmidt Andrea B.,
Mason Susan M.,
NeumarkSztainer Dianne
Publication year - 2019
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.23079
Subject(s) - dieting , binge eating , overweight , psychology , socioeconomic status , obesity , demography , relative risk , risk factor , medicine , confidence interval , eating disorders , clinical psychology , environmental health , weight loss , population , sociology
Objective Binge eating is prevalent across socioeconomic status (SES) groups, but it is unclear whether risk factors for binge eating vary by SES. This study examined the prevalence of several risk factors for binge eating by SES and SES as a potential moderator of these risk factors. Method Participants included 2,179 individuals involved in Project EAT during early/middle adolescence (EAT‐I) and 5 years later during late adolescence/emerging adulthood (EAT‐II). Risk ratios were computed using modified Poisson regression of incident EAT‐II binge eating on EAT‐I risk factors among participants of high and low SES. Interactions between each risk factor and SES were tested. Results Among higher SES adolescents, overweight/obesity (RR = 3.2; 95% CI: 1.8, 5.7), body dissatisfaction (RR = 2.6; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.2, 5.5), dieting (RR = 4.0; 95% CI: 2.0, 8.2), and family weight‐teasing (RR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.3, 4.3) predicted increased risk for binge eating. Among adolescents from low‐SES backgrounds, overweight/obesity (RR = 1.5; 95% CI: 0.9, 2.5), dieting (RR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.2, 3.9), and food insecurity (RR = 1.4; 95% CI: 0.7, 2.7) predicted increased risk for binge eating. Moderator analyses revealed that overweight/obesity, body dissatisfaction, dieting, and family weight‐teasing were stronger risk factors in the high‐SES group than the low‐SES group; interactions with food insecurity could not be examined given the low prevalence of food insecurity in the high‐SES group. Discussion Risk factors for binge eating may vary by SES, suggesting the potential utility of modifying intervention and prevention methods based on SES. In particular, the role of food insecurity must be addressed.