Weight factors in normal weight bulimia nervosa: A controlled family study

Abstract

Normal weight bulimia nervosa (BN) is often clinically associated with weight control problems, frequent dieting, weight loss, and weight gain. However, few controlled research studies have evaluated the role of personal and familial weight history as risk factors for normal weight BN. Jo evaluate the role of body weight as a risk factor for normal weight BN we evaluated 25 women with DSM‐III‐R BN and 25 non‐bulimic age‐ and weight‐matched controls for personal and family history of being overweight, obesity, and weight variability. BN probands had larger historical body mass indices (BMI) and larger lifetime BMI variability than control probands. Proband fathers did not differ in weight histories between case and control families. Mothers of bulimic probands were more likely to report larger current BMI compared to control mothers. Bulimic mothers also have reports of heavier maximum BMI than control mothers. Intrafamitial weight correlations for weight control problems were found between mother‐daughter BN pairs. This study suggests a role for personal and familial weight factors in the etiology of normal weight BN with specific familial mother‐daughter transmission of weight control problems.

A prospective test of the relation between weight change and risk for bulimia nervosa

“…Because individuals with BN are typically in the normal weight range, this implies that many patients with BN were somewhat overweight at their previous highest weight. Similarly, Fairburn et al 5 and Yates 6 report that individuals with BN retrospectively reported a higher premorbid body mass than healthy controls and that there was a greater history of overweight in first-degree relatives of BN individuals.…”

A prospective test of the relation between weight change and risk for bulimia nervosa

“…Because individuals with BN are typically in the normal weight range, this implies that many patients with BN were somewhat overweight at their previous highest weight. Similarly, Fairburn et al 5 and Yates 6 report that individuals with BN retrospectively reported a higher premorbid body mass than healthy controls and that there was a greater history of overweight in first-degree relatives of BN individuals.…”

Social contagion of eating attitudes and behaviors among first year college women living in residence hall communities

“…Additionally, college women frequently have difficulty with unstructured eating environments at college and often gain weight in their first year (Bowen-Woodward & Levitz, 1989). Much research has shown that increased Body Mass Index (BMI), a measure of body composition, is related to disordered eating attitudes and behaviors (Ben-Tovim & Walker, 1994;Davis, Shapiro, Elliot, & Dionne, 1993;Greeno, Jackson, Williams, & Fortmann, 1998;Hannan, Wrate, Cowen, & Freeman, 1995;Kennet & Nisbett, 1998;Kenny & Adams, 1994;Klump, McGue, & Iacono, 2000;Kolody & Sallis, 1995;Lowry, Galuska, Fulton, Wechsler, Kann, & Collins, 2000;Monteath & McCabe, 1997;Mukai, Kambara, & Sasaki, 1998;Pritchard, King, & Czajka-Narins, 1997;Shisslak, Crago, McKnight, Estes, Gray, & Parnaby, 1998;Striegel-Moore, Dohm, Soloman, Fairburn, Pike, & Wilfley, 2000;Strong & Huon, 1998;Taylor, Sharoe, Shisslak, Bryson, Estes, Gray, McKnight, Crago, Kraemer, & Killen, 1998;Van Strien, 1985;Wassenaar, le Grange, Winship, & Lachenicht, 2000;Yates, 1992).…”

A prospective test of the relation between weight change and risk for bulimia nervosa

“…Because individuals with BN are typically in the normal weight range, this implies that many patients with BN were somewhat overweight at their previous highest weight. Similarly, Fairburn et al 5 and Yates 6 report that individuals with BN retrospectively reported a higher premorbid body mass than healthy controls and that there was a greater history of overweight in first-degree relatives of BN individuals.…”

Social contagion of eating attitudes and behaviors among first year college women living in residence hall communities

“…Additionally, college women frequently have difficulty with unstructured eating environments at college and often gain weight in their first year (Bowen-Woodward & Levitz, 1989). Much research has shown that increased Body Mass Index (BMI), a measure of body composition, is related to disordered eating attitudes and behaviors (Ben-Tovim & Walker, 1994;Davis, Shapiro, Elliot, & Dionne, 1993;Greeno, Jackson, Williams, & Fortmann, 1998;Hannan, Wrate, Cowen, & Freeman, 1995;Kennet & Nisbett, 1998;Kenny & Adams, 1994;Klump, McGue, & Iacono, 2000;Kolody & Sallis, 1995;Lowry, Galuska, Fulton, Wechsler, Kann, & Collins, 2000;Monteath & McCabe, 1997;Mukai, Kambara, & Sasaki, 1998;Pritchard, King, & Czajka-Narins, 1997;Shisslak, Crago, McKnight, Estes, Gray, & Parnaby, 1998;Striegel-Moore, Dohm, Soloman, Fairburn, Pike, & Wilfley, 2000;Strong & Huon, 1998;Taylor, Sharoe, Shisslak, Bryson, Estes, Gray, McKnight, Crago, Kraemer, & Killen, 1998;Van Strien, 1985;Wassenaar, le Grange, Winship, & Lachenicht, 2000;Yates, 1992).…”

A prospective test of the relation between weight change and risk for bulimia nervosa

“…Because individuals with BN are typically in the normal weight range, this implies that many patients with BN were somewhat overweight at their previous highest weight. Similarly, Fairburn et al 5 and Yates 6 report that individuals with BN retrospectively reported a higher premorbid body mass than healthy controls and that there was a greater history of overweight in first-degree relatives of BN individuals.…”

Social contagion of eating attitudes and behaviors among first year college women living in residence hall communities

“…Additionally, college women frequently have difficulty with unstructured eating environments at college and often gain weight in their first year (Bowen-Woodward & Levitz, 1989). Much research has shown that increased Body Mass Index (BMI), a measure of body composition, is related to disordered eating attitudes and behaviors (Ben-Tovim & Walker, 1994;Davis, Shapiro, Elliot, & Dionne, 1993;Greeno, Jackson, Williams, & Fortmann, 1998;Hannan, Wrate, Cowen, & Freeman, 1995;Kennet & Nisbett, 1998;Kenny & Adams, 1994;Klump, McGue, & Iacono, 2000;Kolody & Sallis, 1995;Lowry, Galuska, Fulton, Wechsler, Kann, & Collins, 2000;Monteath & McCabe, 1997;Mukai, Kambara, & Sasaki, 1998;Pritchard, King, & Czajka-Narins, 1997;Shisslak, Crago, McKnight, Estes, Gray, & Parnaby, 1998;Striegel-Moore, Dohm, Soloman, Fairburn, Pike, & Wilfley, 2000;Strong & Huon, 1998;Taylor, Sharoe, Shisslak, Bryson, Estes, Gray, McKnight, Crago, Kraemer, & Killen, 1998;Van Strien, 1985;Wassenaar, le Grange, Winship, & Lachenicht, 2000;Yates, 1992).…”