Author Interviews, Psychological Science / 16.01.2025
Study Addresses Why Disordered Eating Often Arises During Adolescence
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Xinyang Yu, PhD Candidate
Institute of Psychiatry
Psychology & Neuroscience
King’s College London
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: This study explores how genetics, brain development, and mental health work together to influence eating behaviours in young people. By analysing data from nearly 1,000 adolescents, we investigated the relationships between eating behaviours, genetic predispositions for high BMI, and changes in brain structure and mental health from ages 14 to 23. The aim was to understand why disordered eating behaviours, such as restrictive dieting or emotional overeating, often emerge alongside mental health issues during adolescence—a time when eating disorders are increasingly common.
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