Summary

By testing whether early growth deviates from the norm - even well before the first signs of an eating disorder appear - we'll gain valuable knowledge about the role of potential metabolic and biological factors in the etiology of eating disorders. This is especially important for moving the field of eating disorders forward, because the majority of existing research has focused largely on sociocultural risk factors. The knowledge gained from our study will help inform our ability to better identify individuals at high risk for eating disorders and intervene prior to entrenchment of a chronic illness.