From Disordered Eating to Eating Competence: Exploring Transitions in Adolescent Eating Profiles and the Role of Identity, Embodiment, and Critical Eating Messages From Parents and Peers.

OBJECTIVE: Adolescence is a key period for the development of eating behaviours. To date, little attention has been paid to the development of positive eating behaviours during adolescence, and longitudinal research with such a holistic focus is lacking. To provide a better understanding of adolescent eating behaviours, this study examined patterns of stability and change in eating profiles among community youth. In addition, this study examined how these profiles and patterns were related to background, psychological, and contextual variables.

METHOD AND RESULTS: This longitudinal study with two timepoints included 608 adolescents and emerging adults at the first timepoint for the current analyses (T1: 64.3% female; Mage = 16.99; SD = 1.24; range = 14-21 years). Using latent transition analysis (LTA), three eating behaviour profiles emerged: a competent eating profile, a subclinical profile, and a clinical profile. Although most individuals in the competent eating and clinical profiles remained within their profile over time, individuals in the subclinical profile were more likely to progress toward greater eating competence or more severe eating disorder symptoms. Using multinomial logistic regression models; sex, adjusted BMI, identity, embodiment, and critical parent and peer eating messages appeared to be related to profile membership, whereas only age, sex, and adjusted BMI were related to transition patterns.

CONCLUSION: The present study informs theory and practice by identifying subgroups of adolescents who differ in their eating behaviours. In addition, these findings provide insight into which aspects are meaningfully related to stability and variability in eating behaviours, supporting the development of targeted interventions.