Eating problems from infancy to adulthood. Knowledge about risk factors and developmental pathways from two longitudinal population studies

The aim of the proposed study is to provide new knowledge about (1) risk factors for eating problems, and (2) longitudinal pathways of eating problems from early childhood through adolescence into adulthood. The research project is motivated by several re cent reviews showing that we need more information about these issues. Data from two long-term longitudinal population studies, the TOPP (Tracking opportunities and problems from childhood through adolescence) and the YiN (Young in Norway) studies will b e used in the project. The TOPP study follows more than 900 children from 18 months to 16 years, with seven waves of data collection. Questionnaire data were obtained from mothers at all waves, whereas children's self-reports were obtained at the last thr ee data collections (at 12.5, 14.5, and 16.5 years of age). The YiN study has followed more than 2,800 adolescents over a 13-years period in four data waves. The respondents were between 13 and 19 years at the first data collection. The two studies provid e comprehensive survey data on eating problems and putative risk factors from 1.5 years of age into the 30ies. Data analyses will primarily be conducted in the framework of structural equation modeling and growth curve analyses to model causal models and developmental trajectories of eating problems. We apply for funding for a three year project for one PhD fellow and a two years post doc. position. The project will be based at the National Institute of Public Health, Division for Mental health, in clos e collaboration with Norwegian Social Research (NOVA). The project will furthermore collaborate with both national and international researchers and a user-perspective is established by collaboration with a patient organization. By using two large scale longitudinal studies, the proposed project provides unique possibilities to obtain new knowledge on eating problems regarding risk factors and developmental patterns