Overeating Among Adolescents: Prevalence and Associations With Weight-Related Characteristics and Psychological Health

The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of overeating among adolescents & to examine associations between overeating & sociodemographic characteristics, weight status, dieting behaviors, body satisfaction, depressive mood, self esteem, & suicide. Overeating was found to be associated with suicide risk: more than one fourth of girls (28.6%) & boys (27.8%) in the study who met criteria for binge eating syndrome reported that they had attempted suicide. Further findings & implications are discussed. (39 refs)