Adverse childhood experiences and binge-eating disorder in early adolescents

Abstract

Plain English summary Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are common among adolescents and a significant public health concern given their associations with various health outcomes later in life. The current study examined the associations between ACEs and binge-eating disorder (BED) among early adolescents using a large, national sample in the United States. Participants with three or more ACEs had nearly nine times higher odds of developing BED at two-year follow-up. Of the different types of ACEs, household mental illness, household violence, and having a criminal household member were most strongly associated with BED. Screening for ACEs when evaluating adolescents for BED should be considered, and clinicians should provide trauma-informed care for adolescents with BED.

Keywords

• Adolescent health
• Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
• Binge-eating disorder