Sociodemographic Factors Tied to Binge-Eating Behaviors in Teens

TUESDAY, Oct. 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Sociodemographic variables are significantly associated with binge-eating disorder (BED) and binge-eating behaviors in adolescents, according to a study published online Oct. 13 in the Journal of Eating Disorders.

Jason M. Nagata, M.D., from University of California in San Francisco, and colleagues examined the associations between sociodemographic characteristics and BED and binge-eating behaviors in U.S. adolescents. The analysis included 10,197 early adolescents (aged 10 to 14 years) participating in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (2018 to 2020).

The researchers found that the overall prevalence of BED and binge-eating behaviors was 1.0 and 6.3 percent, respectively. Greater odds of BED were seen among participants identifying as gay or bisexual (versus heterosexual; adjusted odds ratio, 2.25) and having a household income <$75,000 (adjusted odds ratio, 2.05). Higher odds of binge-eating behaviors were seen among participants who were male, were of Native American descent, had a household income <$75,000, and identified as gay or bisexual.

“Several sociodemographic variables showed significant associations with binge-eating behaviors, which can inform targeted screening, prevention, and education campaigns for BED among early adolescents,” the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text