Childhood food neglect and adverse experiences associated with DSM-5 eating disorders in U.S. National Sample

Objective: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and restricted food access have been associated with risk for eating disorders (EDs). This study examined the relationship between childhood food neglect, an ACE specifically involving restricted food access, and DSM-5-defined EDs in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults, with a particular focus on whether the relationship persists after adjusting for other ACEs and family financial difficulties.

Methods: Participants were 36,145 respondents from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions III (NESARC-III) who provided data regarding childhood food neglect. Prevalence rates of lifetime anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge-eating disorder (BED) were determined for those who reported versus denied childhood food neglect. Analyses compared the odds of each ED diagnosis after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics (Model 1) and further adjusting for other ACEs and governmental-financial support during childhood (Model 2).

Results: Prevalence estimates for AN, BN, and BED with a history of childhood food neglect were 2.80% (SE = 0.81), 0.60% (SE = 0.21), and 3.50% (SE = 0.82), respectively and 0.80% (SE = 0.07), 0.30% (SE = 0.03), and 0.80% (SE = 0.05) for those without a history (all significantly different, p < .05). In the fully-adjusted model, odds of having an ED diagnosis were significantly higher for AN (AOR = 2.98 [95% CI = 1.56-5.71]) and BED (AOR = 2.95 [95% CI = 1.73-5.03]) in respondents with a history of childhood food neglect compared with those without.

Conclusion: Individuals who experience childhood food neglect may be at increased risk for AN and BED and the elevated risk exists after adjusting for other adverse experiences and financial difficulties during childhood.