Kyle T Ganson1, Mitchell L Cunningham2, Stuart B Murray3, Jason M Nagata4. 1. Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street W, Toronto, ON, M5S 1V4, Canada. kyle.ganson@utoronto.ca. 2. School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 3. Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. 4. Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Body ideals for both men and women are continuing to emphasize muscularity and leanness, which has resulted in the high prevalence of appearance- and performance-enhancing drugs and substances (APEDS) use, particularly among young men. Overall, little research has investigated the individual associations between specific APEDS use and eating disorder symptomatology, including among the high-risk population of young adult college students, which was the aim of this study. METHODS: Data from the 2020-2021 Healthy Minds Study (N = 7394) were analyzed. Five indicators of lifetime APEDS use were assessed, and a cumulative sum score was constructed. Eating disorder symptomatology was assessed via the SCOFF questionnaire. A total of 14 modified Poisson regression analyses were estimated to determine the association between APEDS use and a positive eating disorder screen among women and men. RESULTS: Lifetime use of protein supplements and diuretics or water pills were associated with a positive eating disorder screen among both women and men, while use of non-steroid synthetic muscle enhancers was associated with a positive eating disorder screen among men and creatine supplement use was associated with a positive eating disorder screen among women. The risk of a positive eating disorder screen was highest among men who reported use of five APEDS in their lifetime. CONCLUSIONS: Lifetime use of APEDS is associated with eating disorder symptomatology among a national sample of U.S. college and university students. Prevention and intervention efforts are needed to address the link between these potentially harmful behaviors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.
PURPOSE: Body ideals for both men and women are continuing to emphasize muscularity and leanness, which has resulted in the high prevalence of appearance- and performance-enhancing drugs and substances (APEDS) use, particularly among young men. Overall, little research has investigated the individual associations between specific APEDS use and eating disorder symptomatology, including among the high-risk population of young adult college students, which was the aim of this study. METHODS: Data from the 2020-2021 Healthy Minds Study (N = 7394) were analyzed. Five indicators of lifetime APEDS use were assessed, and a cumulative sum score was constructed. Eating disorder symptomatology was assessed via the SCOFF questionnaire. A total of 14 modified Poisson regression analyses were estimated to determine the association between APEDS use and a positive eating disorder screen among women and men. RESULTS: Lifetime use of protein supplements and diuretics or water pills were associated with a positive eating disorder screen among both women and men, while use of non-steroid synthetic muscle enhancers was associated with a positive eating disorder screen among men and creatine supplement use was associated with a positive eating disorder screen among women. The risk of a positive eating disorder screen was highest among men who reported use of five APEDS in their lifetime. CONCLUSIONS: Lifetime use of APEDS is associated with eating disorder symptomatology among a national sample of U.S. college and university students. Prevention and intervention efforts are needed to address the link between these potentially harmful behaviors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.
Authors: Harrison G Pope; Ruth I Wood; Alan Rogol; Fred Nyberg; Larry Bowers; Shalender Bhasin Journal: Endocr Rev Date: 2013-12-17 Impact factor: 19.871
Authors: Jason M Nagata; Kyle T Ganson; Scott Griffiths; Deborah Mitchison; Andrea K Garber; Eric Vittinghoff; Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo; Stuart B Murray Journal: Int J Adolesc Med Health Date: 2020-06-05