Disordered-Eating Attitudes in Relation to Bone Mineral Density and Markers of Bone Turnover in Overweight Adolescents

Purpose: To examine the relationships between cognitive eating restraint and both bone mineral density (BMD) and markers of bone turnover in overweight adolescents. Methods: One hundred thirty-seven overweight (BMI 39.1 ± 6.8 kg/m²) African American and Caucasian adolescent (age = 14.4 ± 1.4 years) girls (66.4%) and boys were administered the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) interview and Eating Inventory (EI) questionnaire and underwent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to measure total lumbar spine BMD. Markers of bone formation (serum bone specific alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin), bone resorption (24-hour urine N-telopeptides), and stress (urine free cortisol) were measured. Results: After accounting for the contribution of demographics, height, weight, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and depressive symptoms, adolescents' weight concern, as assessed by interview, was a significant contributor to the model of urine free cortisol (β = .30, p < .05). Shape concern, as also assessed by interview, was significantly associated with lumbar spine bone mineral density (β = -.15, p < .05). Dietary restraint was not a significant predictor in any of these models. Conclusions: These findings suggest that among severely overweight adolescents, dissatisfaction with shape and weight may be salient stressors. Future research is required to illuminate the relationship between bone health and disordered-eating attitudes in overweight adolescents.