Developing an eating disorder during adolescence appears to affect women's socioeconomic independence in the long-term, but not men's, a new study has found.

While it is already acknowledged that eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder, can have a major impact on physical and mental health, little is known about their impact on a person's socioeconomic circumstances, such as educational attainment and income.

US researchers decided to look into this further. They noted that eating disorders often begin in adolescence, with the average age of diagnosis being 17 or 18 years. These disorders often persist into adulthood and full recovery is only estimated in about half of adolescent cases.

The researchers analysed medical data relating to almost 4,000 young people aged between 11 and 18. Almost 56% of these were females. The participants included people who had been diagnosed with eating disorders and people who had not.

The study found that females who developed eating disorders in their late adolescence were more likely to have lower levels of education and a lower income in early adulthood compared to those without eating disorders.

They were also less likely to own their own home.

However, the same could not be said for males who had developed eating disorders in late adolescence.

"While existing research has commonly stated that eating disorders are bad for one's health, this study has expanded those findings by showing that they also have a negative influence on markers of social wellbeing and socioeconomic achievement in particular, of women.

"Eating disorders during adolescence may represent a turning point that sets individuals on a different trajectory whereby they do not have the same life chances or opportunities for achievement and success throughout their adult life," commented lead researcher, Jennifer Tabler, of the University of Utah.

Details of these findings are published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.