Suicidal ideation in relation to disordered eating, body size and weight perception: a cross-sectional study of a Norwegian adolescent population: the HUNT Study

Abstract

ObjectiveWe conducted a population-based study on a sample of more than 7000 adolescents where we examined the associations between suicidal ideation (SI) and disordered eating (DE) and its related traits.DesignCross-sectional.SettingsData were derived from two Norwegian population-based cohorts, the Young-HUNT1 (1995–1997) and Young-HUNT3 (2006–2008) from the county of Nord-Trøndelag, Norway.ParticipantsA total of 7268 adolescents (15–19 years) who had completed self-reported questionnaires including items on SI, DE, body size and weight perception were included.Primary outcome measuresORs for SI given DE, body size or weight perception. Analyses were performed in multivariate logistic regression models.ResultsThe prevalence of SI was 23.1% in total population. Both girls and boys who reported DE, evaluated their body size asnot‘about the same as others’ or were ‘unhappy about their weight’ had between twofold to fivefold increase in odds for SI; these incremental risks were observed independent of sex, age, body mass index and socioeconomic status. We observed higher odds for SI among boys.ConclusionsOur findings suggest a clear association between SI and DE and its associated traits, in both genders but especially in males. Special attention should be paid on early detection of DE traits among adolescents.

Youth with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: Examining Differences by Age, Weight Status, and Symptom Duration

“…That being said, our findings revealed that patients presenting with acute symptom onsets were more likely to endorse suicidal ideation and/or self- harm than their chronic onset peers. This is congruent with previous studies indicating an association between suicidal ideation and/or self-harm and disordered eating [41], and indicates that symptom duration may be an important factor in further understanding this link. These potential associations have important implications for treatment, as youth presenting with acute symptoms of ARFID may need more thorough and timely evaluation of safety concerns even though their weights may not be as low as their chronic counterparts.…”

Cross-sectional study of BMI, weight concern, body size perception, dieting and mental distress in adolescents: The HUNT Study

“…Compared with their female counterparts, adolescent boys who overestimated their body size quite consistently showed higher odds for MD. In line with previous findings,6 we found higher male vulnerability to MD across all weight concern/dieting groups. Since weight concern/dieting groups were defined based on BMI, the higher male vulnerability cannot be solely related to individuals’ BMI.…”

“…Preventing obesity has however, proved difficult 1–3. To lose weight, many adolescents resort to dieting; whose effectivity and long-term health consequences are debated 4–7. In order to strive to achieve (or maintain) normal weight, it is necessary for individuals, to have awareness of their own body.…”

“…Previous studies in adolescent populations, have collectively pointed at inter-related and multifaceted relationships between body awareness, body mass index (BMI) and dieting 4–7. High BMI and having concerns about one’s weight or body size have been associated with poorer mental health among adolescents, but what contributes to this association is not fully understood 6…”

Effects of Self-Esteem on the Association between Negative Life Events and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents

“…Suicidal ideation is common among adolescents, present in about 17.5% of the middle school students in China [1] and about 17.7% of adolescents in the United States [3]. Suicidal ideation has been found to be significantly associated with suicidal attempt, depressiveness, anxiety, disordered eating, and so on [4,5,6,7]. To sustain improvements in management and prevention initiatives, we need to identify and understand the risk and protective factors associated with suicidal ideation.…”