Misuse of prescription stimulants for weight loss, psychosocial variables, and eating disordered behaviors.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional survey assessing behaviors and psychosocial correlates at a single time point.
PubMed 23376413 · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2013.01.008
What was done
Undergraduate students (n=705) completed an online survey evaluating non-medical use of prescription stimulants (NPS) for weight loss, along with weight loss motivations, eating behaviors, and psychosocial factors.
What was found
Nearly 12% of respondents reported misusing prescription stimulants specifically for weight loss. Those reporting stimulant misuse for weight loss demonstrated higher appearance-related weight loss motivations, increased emotion- and stress-related eating, poorer coping appraisal, lower self-esteem, and higher rates of unhealthy weight loss and disordered eating behaviors (specific numerical effect sizes and p-values were not reported in the abstract).
Why it matters
This study highlights that weight loss is an active motivation for prescription stimulant misuse among college students and identifies strong associations between this behavior, psychological distress, and broader eating pathology.
Limits
The study relied on self-reported, online survey data in a convenience sample of undergraduate students, limiting generalizability. The cross-sectional design prevents establishing causal directions between stimulant misuse, psychosocial variables, and eating disordered behaviors.
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