Eating disorders

Dr Sue Byrne
Dr Wendy Oddy
Ms Karina Allen
Associate Professor David Forbes

Eating disorders, including both undereating and overeating typically develop between early adolescence and early adulthood and are estimated to affect up to 7% of teenage girls. They also affect an increasing number of boys and young men. Eating disorders are serious, chronic disorders associated with a range of psychological, social and physiological complications that can have a profound impact on the lives of affected individuals.  Eating disorders also tend to persist without treatment. The Raine Eating Disorders group aims to determine the prevalence of eating disorders in the Raine Study Cohort, and to identify factors that predict the development and maintenance of these conditions. It is expected that the findings will provide much needed information to guide future prevention and intervention efforts for eating disorders.

Publications

Allen KL, Byrne SM, Forbes D, Oddy WH. Risk Factors for Full- and Partial-Syndrome Early Adolescent Eating Disorders: A Population-Based Pregnancy Cohort Study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009 Jun 26.

Herzog, D. B. & Eddy, K. T. 2009, 'Eating disorders: what are the risks?' Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, vol. 48, no. 8, pp. 782-3.