The Journal of Pediatrics
Volume 157, Issue 1 , Pages 32-35 , July 2010

Is There a Role for Primary Care Physicians' Screening of Excessive Weight and Eating Concerns in Adolescence?

  • Catherine Chamay Weber, MD

      Affiliations

    • Adolescent and Young Adult Program, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
    • ,
  • Dagmar M. Haller, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Adolescent and Young Adult Program, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Division of Primary Care, Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Dagmar M. Haller, MD, PhD, Primary Care Division, Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care, University of Geneva, 4 av Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil, 1211 Geneve 14, Switzerland.
    • ,
  • Francoise Narring, MD, MSc

      Affiliations

    • Adolescent and Young Adult Program, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland

Received 16 July 2009 ,Revised 2 November 2009 ,Accepted 20 January 2010.

References 

  1. Whitaker AH. An epidemiological study of anorectic and bulimic symptoms in adolescent girls: implications for pediatricians. Pediatr Ann. 1992;752–759
  2. Emmons L. Dieting and purging behavior in black and white high school students. J Am Diet Assoc. 1992;92:306–312
  3. Croll J, Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, Ireland M. Prevalence and risk and protective factors related to disordered eating behaviors among adolescents: relationship to gender and ethnicity. J Adolesc Health. 2002;31:166–175
  4. Devaud C, Jeannin A, Narring F, Ferron C, Michaud PA. Eating disorders among female adolescents in Switzerland: prevalence and associations with mental and behavioral disorders. Int J Eat Disord. 1998;24:207–216
  5. Chamay-Weber C, Narring F, Michaud PA. Partial eating disorders among adolescents: a review. J Adolesc Health. 2005;37:417–427
  6. Siegel JM, Yancey AK, Aneshensel CS, Schuler R. Body image, perceived pubertal timing, and adolescent mental health. J Adolesc Health. 1999;25:155–165
  7. Fisher M, Golden NH, Katzman DK, Kreipe RE, Rees J, Schebendach J, et al. Eating disorders in adolescents: a background paper. J Adolesc Health. 1995;16:420–437
  8. Lau B, Alsaker FD. Dieting behavior in Norwegian adolescents. Scand J Psychol. 2001;42:25–32
  9. Buddeberg-Fischer B, Bernet R, Schmid J, Buddeberg C. Relationship between disturbed eating behavior and other psychosomatic symptoms in adolescents. Psychother Psychosom. 1996;65:319–326
  10. Drewnowski A, Yee DK, Kurth CL, Krahn DD. Eating pathology and DSM-III-R bulimia nervosa: a continuum of behavior. Am J Psychiatry. 1994;151:1217–1219
  11. Becker AE, Thomas JJ, Franko DL, Herzog DB. Disclosure patterns of eating and weight concerns to clinicians, educational professionals, family, and peers. Int J Eat Disord. 2005;38:18–23
  12. Dancyger IF, Garfinkel PE. The relationship of partial syndrome eating disorders to anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Psychol Med. 1995;25:1019–1025
  13. Patton GC. The spectrum of eating disorder in adolescence. J Psychosom Res. 1988;32:579–584
  14. Patton GC, Johnson-Sabine E, Wood K, Mann AH, Wakeling A. Abnormal eating attitudes in London schoolgirls–a prospective epidemiological study: outcome at twelve month follow-up. Psychol Med. 1990;20:383–394
  15. Killen JD, Taylor CB, Hayward C, Haydel KF, Wilson DM, Hammer L, et al. Weight concerns influence the development of eating disorders: a 4-year prospective study. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1996;64:936–940
  16. Madden S, Morris A, Zurynski YA, Kohn M, Elliot EJ. Burden of eating disorders in 5-13-year-old children in Australia. Med J Austr. 2009;190:410–414
  17. Shisslak CM, Crago M, Yates A. Typical patterns in atypical anorexia nervosa. Psychosomatics. 1989;30:307–311
  18. Santonastaso P, Friederici S, Favaro A. Full and partial syndromes in eating disorders: a 1-year prospective study of risk factors among female students. Psychopathology. 1999;32:50–56
  19. Jeannin A, Narring F, Tschumper A, Bonivento LI, Addor V, Butikofer A, et al. Self-reported health needs and use of primary health care services by adolescents enrolled in post-mandatory schools or vocational training programmes in Switzerland. Swiss Med Wkly. 2005;135:11–18
  20. Lau B, Alsaker FD. Assessment of weight and eating concerns in Norwegian adolescents. Scand J Psychol. 2000;41:189–196
  21. Richards MH, Casper RC, Larson R. Weight and eating concerns among pre- and young adolescent boys and girls. J Adolesc Health Care. 1990;11:203–209
  22. Alsaker F. Pubertal timing, overweight, and psychosocial adjustment. J Early Adolesc. 1992;396–419
  23. Winstead NS, Willard SG. Gastrointestinal complaints in patients with eating disorders. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2006;40:678–682
  24. Johnson J, Whitaker AH. Adolescent smoking, weight changes, and binge-purge behavior: associations with secondary amenorrhea. Am J Public Health. 1992;82:47–54
  25. Selzer R, Caust J, Hibbert M, Bowes G, Patton G. The association between secondary amenorrhea and common eating disordered weight control practices in an adolescent population. J Adolesc Health. 1996;19:56–61
  26. LeResche L, Mancl LA, Drangsholt MT, Saunders K, Korff MV. Relationship of pain and symptoms to pubertal development in adolescents. Pain. 2005;118:201–209
  27. Anstine D, Grinenko D. Rapid screening for disordered eating in college-aged females in the primary care setting. J Adolesc Health. 2000;26:338–342
  28. Morgan JF, Reid F, Lacey JH. The SCOFF questionnaire: assessment of a new screening tool for eating disorders. BMJ. 1999;319:1467–1468
  29. Howard WT, Evans KK, Quintero-Howard CV, Bowers WA, Andersen AE. Predictors of success or failure of transition to day hospital treatment for inpatients with anorexia nervosa. Am J Psychiatr. 1999;156:1697–1702
  30. Steinhausen HC. The outcome of anorexia nervosa in the 20th century. Am J Psychiatr. 2002;159:1284–1293
  31. Lothen-Kline C, Howard DE, Hamburger EK, Worrell KD, Boekeloo BO. Truth and consequences: ethics, confidentiality, and disclosure in adolescent longitudinal prevention research. J Adolesc Health. 2003;33:385–394
  32. Narring F, Michaud PA. Methodological issues in adolescent health surveys: the case of the Swiss Multicenter-adolescent Survey on Health. Soz Praventivmed. 1995;40:172–182

 Supported by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health and the participating cantons. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

PII: S0022-3476(10)00045-4

doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.01.030

The Journal of Pediatrics
Volume 157, Issue 1 , Pages 32-35 , July 2010

Article Tools