Eating-related Environmental Factors in Underweight Eating Disorders and Obesity: Are There Common Vulnerabilities During Childhood and Early Adolescence?

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine whether there is an association between individual, social and family influences and dysfunctional eating patterns early in life and the likelihood of developing a subsequent underweight eating disorder (ED) or obesity. Method: The total sample comprised 152 individuals (underweight ED, n=45; obese patients, n=65; healthy controls; n=42) from Barcelona, Spain. The Cross-Cultural Questionnaire (CCQ) was used to assess early eating influences as well as individual and family eating patterns and attitudes towards food. Results: Even though a few shared eating influences emerged for both groups, unique factors were also observed. Whereas relationship with f..