Unhealthy life habits associated with self-induced vomiting and laxative misuse in Brazilian adolescents

Abstract

Adolescence is a stage in life characterized by important social, cognitive, and physical changes. Adolescents are vulnerable to various psychosocial disorders, including eating disorders. We aimed to investigate the association between unhealthy habits, sociodemographic characteristics, and the practice of self-induced vomiting or laxative misuse in a representative sample of Brazilian adolescent girls and boys. Data from 102,072 students who participated in the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey were analyzed using the dependent variable: presence or absence of self-induced vomiting and/or laxative misuse; independent variables: consumption of unhealthy and high-calorie food items, age during first sexual intercourse, and the use of tobacco, alcohol, and/or illicit drugs. Associations between exposure and outcome were estimated using Poisson’s regression models stratified by sex, and including region, school, age group, and mother's educational history as adjustment variables. Eating ultra-processed foods and age during first sexual intercourse were associated with self-induced vomiting and laxative misuse only for girls; all other variables (consuming unhealthy foods and using legal or illicit substances) were associated with these behaviors for both sexes after applying adjustment variables. Early interventions focusing on changing unhealthy behaviors may prevent development of eating disorders in adolescents. Our findings demonstrate a strong association of many unhealthy habits with laxative misuse and self-induced vomiting practices in Brazilian adolescents.

Body-Related Attitudes, Personality, and Identity in Female Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa or Other Mental Disorders

“…It was shown that post-menarche girls have a significantly higher Body Mass Index (BMI) than pre-menarche girls of the same age [ 18 ]. This factor increases the probability of engaging in dieting and increased exercise [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. Frost and McKelvie [ 25 ] found that physical acceptance and body satisfaction are predictors of self-esteem and detected evidence that self-esteem in female students is related to weight satisfaction.…”

THE RELATIONSHIP OF WRONG LAXATIVE USE WITH CONSTIPATION AND EATING DISORDERS in vitro: EFFECT ON HEALTHY COLON EPITHELI

“…In a study conducted on 102,072 Brazilian adolescents, a strong correlation was observed between many unhealthy habits, abuse of laxatives and self-induced vomiting in both genders (16). Guerin et al (17) aimed to investigate the relationship between the risk of developing colorectal cancer and benign colorectal neoplasm by classifying patients with and without chronic constipation according to the severity of constipation.…”

A specific association between laxative misuse and suicidal behaviours in patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa

“…Furthermore, impulsivity is regarded as a clinical hallmark of borderline personality disorder, and a study by Tozzi et al has reported an association between laxative abuse and borderline personality disorder in ED patients [13]. Other studies have also demonstrated an association between laxative abuse and sexual abuse history [27,28]. which, in addition to being associated with increased impulsivity, might cause the laxative misuse as a way to increase control over the body and affects.…”