Pubdate: Wed, 24 Nov 1999 Source: Toronto Star (CN ON) Copyright: 1999, The Toronto Star Contact: http://www.thestar.com/ Author: Tanya Talaga, Toronto Star Medical Reporter TEEN BINGE-EATERS PRONE TO DRUG USE Study Also Finds More Depression Teens with binge eating habits tend to use more drugs and have poorer mental health than other students, says a study of almost 2,000 Ontario youth. The study found that 16 per cent of female students and 5 per cent of males were binge eaters who try to offset the effects of their bingeing by vomiting, dieting, exercising or using a diuretic. Marijuana and other drugs such as speed and LSD were more likely to be used by teenagers who binge and purge their meals than those who didn't, says the study, published this month in the International Journal of Eating Disorders. And bingers also have a lower sense of self-esteem and more frequent bouts of depression than other students, said study co-author Helen Ross, a scientist with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and a University of Toronto professor in the department of psychiatry. ``We've discovered heavier and more problematic use of most drugs among young people who are binge eaters compared to non-bingers.'' Ross analyzed data collected from the 1997 Ontario Student Drug Use Survey on youth in Grades 7, 9, 11 and 13. The students were quizzed on their eating habits, mental health, alcohol and drug use - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake