Diet pill and laxative use for weight control predicts first-time receipt of an eating disorder diagnosis within the next 5 years among female adolescents and young adults.

OBJECTIVE

To replicate findings from a prior study which identified prospective associations between use of products for weight control and subsequent receipt of a first-time eating disorder (ED) diagnosis among female adolescents and young adults.

METHOD

Data from a prospective cohort study, Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults), were used to examine prospective associations between self-reported past-year diet pill and laxative use for weight control and self-reported receipt of an ED diagnosis among females without prior receipt of an ED diagnosis (N = 1,015). Participants were followed from early/middle adolescence (EAT-I; M  = 14.9 years) into late adolescence/emerging adulthood (EAT-II; M  = 19.5 years) and young adulthood (EAT-III; M  = 24.8 years).

RESULTS

First-time receipt of an ED diagnosis was reported by 2.4% of participants at EAT-II and 4.0% at EAT-III. After adjusting for demographics and weight status, participants using diet pills (risk ratio [RR] = 3.58, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.96-6.54) and laxatives (RR = 2.77, 95% CI: 1.01-7.64) had greater risk of receiving a first-time ED diagnosis within 5 years than those not using these products.

DISCUSSION

The present study replicated prior findings, providing further evidence for a prospective link between use of products for weight control and subsequent receipt of an ED diagnosis.