Eating disorder symptoms are prospectively associated with higher BMI percentile in male early adolescents

PURPOSE: To investigate sex differences in prospective associations between eating disorder (ED) symptoms and changes in body mass index (BMI) percentile in early adolescence. METHODS: This prospective study used survey data from 7111 participants aged 10-12 years at Year 1 from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study-a diverse, national sample of adolescents from 21 sites across the United States (US). Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess the prospective associations between ED symptoms at Year 1 and BMI percentile at Year 2, adjusting for covariates and BMI percentile at Year 1. Effect moderation was explored in sex-stratified models. RESULTS: Sex modified the relationship between ED symptoms and changes in BMI percentile. Having binge eating symptoms (B = 3.65, 95% CI 1.80-5.51, p