Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adulthood as Potential Outcomes of Trauma in Childhood
Childhood trauma is a continuous and prevalent problem in US society, creating a ripple effect in the physical and mental health of individuals later in adulthood. In 2012 alone, there were 3.4 million referrals made on behalf of children who were abused or neglected. Researchers have found that children who experience trauma, e.g., sexual, physical, or verbal abuse, and/or neglect, are more likely to become obese or develop eating disorders as adults. Sixty-one percent of American adults are considered obese, one in 200 American women suffer from anorexia, and two to three in 100 American women suffer from bulimia. Furthermore, researchers have found that the specific type of abuse experienced in childhood correlates with the level of severity in individuals’ eating disorders or obesity. Finally, the paper will present the findings of researchers exploring the role of Depressive Disorder in the lives of adults struggling with obesity and eating disorders.
PSY 499 Capstone
Mary Ann Winter-Messiers
PFB 103
2:00 – 2:30 PM