Sexual assault history and eating disorder symptoms among White, Hispanic, and African-American women and men

Data from two Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program sites (Los Angeles and North Carolina) were analyzed to examine relations of sexual assault history to eating disorder symptoms. In regression analyses controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, income, socioeconomic status, and study site, persons with sexual assault history (n = 514) were more likely than those not assaulted (n = 5511) to report thinking they were too fat (odds ratio [OR] = 1.6), losing greater than or equal to 15 Ib (OR = 1.86); weight loss to 85% of normal (OR = 2.08), one or more anorexia symptoms (OR = 1.81); and sudden weight change (OR = 2.32). Ethnicity and income modified the relations. The data support an association of sexual assault history with eating disorder symptoms.