Researchers studying overeating in children and teens have found what they call a strong link to drug use.
The Boston Children's Hospital study looked at girls and boys between the ages of 9 and 15, and followed up with them every year until they were young adults 18 to 24. They found a connection between binge eating as a child and using marijuana and other drugs as a young adult.
Researchers say their findings suggest that lack of control is an important indicator of the severity of overeating episodes -- regardless of whether the children said they felt "in control" or "out of control" during their eating.
Nutritionists say it's another good reason to screen children and teens for eating problems, because intervention, such as behavioral therapy, can prevent health problems later in life.
The study did not find a correlation between binge eating and binge drinking.
It is great that researchers come out with this correlation between overeating and abusing drugs. It makes all the sense. Food is readily available in our society as well as drugs. And therefore, self control is the first indicator whether one will fall prey to these abundances.
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