Binge Eating Associated With Higher Risk Of Drug Use, Depression In Youths.

Reuters (12/11, Pittman) reports that, according to research published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, youths who engage in binge eating may be more likely to begin using drugs, and may also be more likely to become depressed.

Bloomberg News (12/11, Ostrow) reports, “The study focused on 16,882 boys and girls ages 9 to 15 in 1996.” Participants “were given questionnaires every 12 to 24 months from 1996 to 2005 to assess their eating.” Investigators found that “teens and young adults who reported being binge-eaters or overeaters were almost twice as likely to start using marijuana than those without the eating disorder.

MedPage Today (12/11, Petrochko) reports, “Perhaps not surprisingly, children and teens who binged on food — but not those who merely overate — were also more likely to become overweight or obese (aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.69) and were at twice the risk of becoming depressed (aOR 2.19, 95% CI 1.40 to 3.45).”

Related Links:

— “Youth who overeat more likely to take up drugs, “Genevra Pittman, Reuters, December 10, 2012.

Posted in In The News.