Broad Eating Disorder Symptoms Linked to Later Alcohol Problems
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, July 6, 2023 -- Broad eating disorder symptoms are associated with later alcohol problems, according to a study published online June 23 in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.
Leon Hirvelä, M.D., from the University of Helsinki, and colleagues examined the longitudinal association of broad eating disorder symptoms with alcohol problems in a nationwide twin sample (FinnTwin16) composed of 1,905 women and 1,449 men. Participants self-reported their eating disorder symptoms at a mean age of 24.4 years in 2000 to 2003. Alcohol problems were assessed at the age of 34.1 years in 2010 to 2012.
The researchers observed an association for eating disorder symptoms with later alcohol problems (odds ratio, 1.02 to 1.18 per point increase). For bulimia, associations were stronger for men than women. Drive for muscularity and height dissatisfaction were also associated with later alcohol problems, but no association was seen for supplement use. Only bulimia (among women and men) and drive for thinness (among men) were significantly associated with later alcohol problems when accounting for baseline alcohol problems. In within-twin pair analyses among dizygotic twins, but not among monozygotic twins, bulimia was significantly associated with later alcohol problems.
"Broad eating disorder symptoms were associated with later alcohol problems," the authors write. "With the exception of bulimic symptoms, most of these associations were attributable to baseline alcohol problems."
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted July 2023
Read this next
Seven in 10 Experiencing Homelessness Have a Mental Health Disorder
WEDNESDAY, April 17, 2024 -- The majority of people experiencing homelessness have mental health disorders, according to a review published online April 17 in JAMA...
Midlife Deaths of Despair Increased From 1999 to 2022
THURSDAY, April 11, 2024 -- Midlife deaths from suicide, drug overdose, and alcoholic liver disease, collectively known as deaths of despair, increased from 1999 through 2022...
Use of Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder Improves Outcomes
MONDAY, April 1, 2024 -- For patients with alcohol-related hospitalization, discharge initiation of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for alcohol use disorder...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.