The increasing number of harmful psychological influences has led to an increase in the prevalence of neuropsychiatric disorders and somatic diseases, in the mechanism of which emotional factors play an important role. Psychologically-related eating behavior disorders are commonly discussed in the modern world. The authors of the article Predictors and long-term health outcomes of eating disorders aimed to study this topic and bring new information into existing research.
The research aimed to investigate the causes and consequences of food disorders. Much focus was given to causes and to finding preventive measures to ensure public health practice. Additionally, the material in the article was targeted to serve as a basis for future research. Diseases for eating behavior in the study were anorexia and bulimia, the presence of which was observed through the questions. Moreover, the authors were interested in confirming or refuting the existence of an association between breast cancer and eating disorders. This direction was associated with their past research aimed at related topics (O’Brien et al., 2017). Therefore, the study had a large number of goals, but the main ones remained the causes and long-term consequences of eating disorders.
The authors presented a quantitative research method in their article. The method was used through statistical analysis of data obtained through survey questionnaires from a sample of 50884 women. However, the obtained results of the questionnaires were filtered and, in the absence of answers for relevant and important questions for the study, were not further considered in the analysis. The use of the quantitative method allowed for segmentation, building profiles of participants, answering several questions about the number of respondents in each category, searching for patterns, and testing hypotheses. The statistical method included polytomous logistic regression and confidence intervals, the possible application of which was provided by a large number of answers (O’Brien et al., 2017). Tables with categorical division, such as by age and ethnicity in the demographic section, made it possible to visually and effectively present statistics in each category.
As a result of the study, risk factors were found, such as younger birth cohort, a traumatic event during childhood, higher physical activity levels and much more. The effects studied included parity, depression, smoking habits, being underweight, and tendency to use hormonal drugs. The authors also compared their results with existing literature on the topic. Their research correlated with existing information in the reviewed literature (O’Brien et al., 2017). It is impossible not to agree with all the results of the study, since the conclusions are based on statistical data. At the same time, in contrast to the beginning of the study, the results paid minimal attention to the relationship with the risk of breast cancer, although it was originally positioned as one of the research questions.
In conclusion, the authors of the article conducted large-scale studies, involving a large number of respondents to answer the questionnaires. Predictors and long-term health outcomes of eating disorders article created an information base for further research on the topic. Additionally, it allowed to conduct a review of existing literature, determine its information gaps and fill them in through answers. The authors used a survey method through a series of questions. The research covered a large list of research questions, the main ones being the causes and consequences of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. The scale and methodology of the study allows me to agree with all the mentioned conclusions.
Reference
O’Brien, K. M., Whelan, D. R., Sandler, D. P., Hall, J. E., & Weinberg, C. R. (2017). Predictors and long-term health outcomes of eating disorders. PloS one, 12(7), 1-14. Web.