Disordered Eating and Body Image Concerns in Young Adult Women With Scoliosis

Abstract

Background: Researchers have called for more investigation into disordered eating behaviors in females with scoliosis. Objective: The objective of the current study was to assess the associations between body image concerns, disease-specific indicators of scoliosis (ie, age of diagnosis, having undergone bracing treatment, being told by a physician your scoliosis required surgery, having a spinal fusion), quality of life, and disordered eating in a sample of young adult women diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis during adolescence. Design: This study was cross-sectional in design. Methods: Participants were 177 young adult women ages 18 to 30 years diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis by a physician who completed questionnaires online. Results: Undergoing bracing treatment (r = −.440; P