About The Study: In this case-control study of individuals age 13 or older without a prior eating disorder diagnosis, researchers found that an outpatient electrolyte abnormality was associated with an over 2-fold higher odds of a subsequent eating disorder diagnosis. The median time from the earliest electrolyte abnormality to eating disorder diagnosis exceeded one year. These results suggest that otherwise unexplained outpatient electrolyte abnormalities may serve to identify individuals who should be screened for an underlying eating disorder.
Authors: Gregory L. Hundemer, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada, is the corresponding author.
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(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.40809)
