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Why is premorbid BMI consistently elevated in clinical samples, but not in risk factor samples, of individuals with eating disorders?
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Why is premorbid BMI consistently elevated in clinical samples, but not in risk factor samples, of individuals with eating disorders?

Alexandra F Muratore and Michael R Lowe
The International journal of eating disorders, v 52(2)
Feb 2019
PMID: 30677155

Abstract

bulimia nervosa eating disorder risk factors premorbid weight anorexia nervosa body mass index
Body image disturbance is widely viewed as contributing to the development and maintenance of disordered eating. Yet this perspective is not inconsistent with the possibility that elevated premorbid BMIs also increase the risk of developing eating disorders. Research examining whether actual body size may play a role in eating disorder development reveals a curious pattern of findings. Few prospective risk factor studies conducted with community-based samples found a relationship between premorbid BMI and subsequent eating disorder pathology whereas retrospective research conducted with clinical samples indicates a consistent pattern of elevated premorbid BMIs relative to population norms or control groups. This study documents these disparate findings, considers potential explanations for them and proposes further study of premorbid BMI as a factor contributing to the psychopathology of eating disorders, particularly among those who come to the attention of treatment providers.

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9 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#5 Gender Equality

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Web of Science research areas
Nutrition & Dietetics
Psychiatry
Psychology
Psychology, Clinical
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