Adverse childhood events are associated with obesity and disordered eating: results from a U.S. population-based survey of young adults

J Trauma Stress. 2009 Aug;22(4):329-33. doi: 10.1002/jts.20421.

Abstract

The authors investigated the relationship between childhood abuse and obesity in young adulthood (M age = 22) in a large, U.S. representative sample (N = 15,197). Controlling for demographics and depression, men with a history of childhood sexual abuse were at increased risk of overweight and obesity. No association between childhood abuse and obesity or overweight was observed for women in this sample. Higher percentages of skipping meals to lose weight and problematic eating were observed among women with a history of physical abuse. This is the first study to note an association between childhood abuse with obesity and problematic weight management behaviors in a sample of young adults.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child Abuse / psychology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Obesity / epidemiology*
  • Obesity / psychology
  • Odds Ratio
  • Risk Factors
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult