Researchers from Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. found that teenagers who have eating disorders caused due to anxiety and depression are more likely to have suicidal thoughts.
A new study from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University in the U.S., has found a link between eating disorders and suicidal thoughts. Several studies have linked binge eating with obesity and many health disorders. Dr. Rashelle Musci and colleagues from the Bloomberg School of Public Health conducted a study and presented a new take on the adverse effects of binge eating. They linked binge eating due to anxiety and depression to increased risk of suicide. The study shows that people who are often dissatisfied with their bodies display this eating disorder, which in return puts them at higher risk of suicidal thoughts.
For this study, Musci and team studied the behavior of 131 black females aged between 6 and 17 for a period of 11 years. Participants were interviewed to examine their anxiety, depression, satisfaction with physical appearance, and eating behaviors, mainly binge eating. Participants' teachers and parents were also interviewed for the study.
Most often, physical appearance makes a huge impact on a people's personality. In this study it was found that the African American females displayed depression and anxiety in adolescence as a result of discontent with their physical appearance. Researchers also noted if any participant reported a suicide attempt during the course of study.
Based on the findings, researchers found that teen girls involved in binge eating due to anxiety reported more suicide attempts. These findings can be helpful in targeting "individuals at high risk of psychiatric problems by intervening in the case of binge eating problems," authors of the study wrote. "Our results also support the importance of developing prevention programs that are culturally relevant to individuals."
The findings of the study are published in the journal Prevention Science.
