Survey finds detrimental effects on self-esteem, quality of life, and eating habits
MONDAY, July 16 (HealthDay News) -- Adolescents with macromastia have reduced health-related quality of life, lower self-esteem, more breast-related symptoms, and are at higher risk for disordered eating, compared with their peers, according to a study published online July 16 in Pediatrics.
Felecia Cerrato, M.P.H., from Harvard University in Boston, and colleagues surveyed 96 female adolescents (aged 12 to 21 years) with macromastia and 103 controls using Short-Form 36v2, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Breast-Related Symptoms Questionnaire, and Eating-Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26).
The researchers found that subjects with macromastia had a significantly higher body mess index. Compared with controls, adolescents with macromastia had lower Short-Form 36v2 domain, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Breast-Related Symptoms Questionnaire scores, and higher EAT-26 scores. There was a higher risk of disordered eating behaviors among participants with macromastia.
"Macromastia has a substantial negative impact on health-related quality of life, self-esteem, physical symptoms, and eating behaviors in adolescents with this condition," the authors write.
The study was funded by the Plastic Surgery Foundation.
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