Disordered eating attitudes and behaviors in ballet students: examination of environmental and individual risk factors

OBJECTIVE: The current study compared the prevalence of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors among adolescent ballet dancers at national, regional, and local schools. METHOD: Female ballet students (N = 239; mean age = 15.0 +/- 1.5 years) from five geographically disparate summer programs completed the Eating Dis-order Inventory (EDI) and answered questions regarding eating disorder symptoms. RESULTS: Students from both national and local schools reported significantly higher EDI total, Drive for Thinness, and Perfectionism scores compared with regional students. In contrast, national students reported significantly greater dieting scores and lifetime histories of self-induced vomiting compared with regional and local students. CONCLUSION: Eating pathology among adolescent ballet dancers may be a function of both genetic and environmental risk. Dancers who exhibit high levels of perfectionism and, perhaps consequently, place themselves in highly competitive environments, may exhibit a significantly increased risk for disordered eating in comparison to dancers who are less perfectionistic and/or place themselves in less competitive environments.     

Anxiety of young female athletes with disordered eating behaviors

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence rate of disordered eating behaviors in young female athletes and to compare the anxiety levels of the athletes with or without disordered eating behaviors. Female athletes (n=243) of 15 to 25 years old from the city, Edirne, in Turkey participated our study. Disordered eating behaviors and anxiety levels of participants were evaluated by the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Disordered eating behaviors was reported as 40 (16.7%) among all athletes. Both state and trait anxiety scores were higher in athletes with disordered eating behaviors than the athletes without disordered eating behaviors (p=0.01). The athletes who engage in leanness and non leanness sports were reported as having similar EAT-40 scores and anxiety scores. In conclusion, athletes with disordered eating behaviors have higher state and trait anxiety scores.     

Sociotropic cognition and eating disordered attitudes and behavior in young adults

Sociotropic cognition is a mindset characterized by a strong need for social approval and fear of interpersonal rejection. Sociotropic cognition has been associated with depression and health risk behavior in women, but few studies have specifically addressed eating disordered attitudes and behaviors, and studies including men are lacking. The purpose of the present study was to assess the influence of sociotropic cognition on eating-related attitudes and behaviors in men and women. Participants were N = 362 undergraduate students (51% female; mean age = 19.2 ± 1.43) who completed measures of sociotropic cognition, depressed mood, eating disordered attitudes and behaviors, body shape satisfaction, and physical activity. Using hierarchical regression, the results demonstrated that sociotropic cognition was associated with greater dietary restraint, body shape, eating, and weight concerns, emotional eating, and global eating disordered score. Body shape dissatisfaction and emotional eating were found to mediate the relationship between sociotropic cognition and eating disordered behaviors. Sociotropic cognition appears to be an important predictor of body shape dissatisfaction and eating disordered behaviors in a non-clinical sample. Individuals high in sociotropic cognition may engage in eating disordered behavior in response to fears of social evaluation. These findings have implications for prevention and treatment of eating disorders. Cognitive-behavioral intervention strategies are suggested to reduce sociotropic cognition and its influence on eating disordered behavior.     

Association of thin-ideal media exposure,body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors among adolescents in Taiwan

ObjectiveThe present study examined the relationships between thin-ideal media exposure, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating behaviors among adolescents in Taiwan.MethodA total of 2992 students in the 10th grade were recruited from 26 high schools in Taipei, Taiwan to complete a questionnaire in 2010.ResultsThe results showed that the adolescents were exposed to thin-ideal messages a few times a week. Females had higher levels of thin-ideal media exposure, media pressure to be thin, thin-ideal internalization, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating behaviors than males. Multivariate logistic regression results indicated that media pressure and thin-deal internalization significantly increased the likelihood of body dissatisfaction, while media pressure and body dissatisfaction contributed to both restrained eating and unhealthy weight control behaviors, when all other variables were controlled for.     

Sex-role and eating behaviors among college women

According to one theory, compulsive eating among most women represents an unconscious rejection of the roles and behaviors traditionally perceived as “feminine” by our society. To examine this issue, 162 college women were surveyed with self-report measures assessing sex-related attributes, covert hostility, compulsive eating, and dieting. Results contradicted the theory: Though compulsive eaters tended to perceive themselves as relatively low in feminine qualities, they desired to be more, rather than less, feminine. In contrast, restrictive dieters perceived themselves as being relatively high in feminine traits. Demographic and experimental variables together accurately predicted 27% of the variance in the Compulsive Eatirig Scale, 17% of the variance in the Dieting Scale. Compulsive eating and dieting were each associated with the perception that mother had played a relatively traditional feminine role within the family. Need for Social Approval emerged as a variable of paramount importance, both in relation to compulsive eating and in relation to subjects' perceptions of sex-typed attributes. In toto, results suggested that compulsive eating may have been a response to feelings of inadequacy, and that dieting was inherent in “femininity,” as it was defined by young adults.     

Psychological distress as a mediator in the relationships between biopsychosocial factors and disordered eating among Malaysian university students

The mechanism linking biopsychosocial factors to disordered eating among university students is not well understood especially among Malaysians. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of psychological distress in the relationships between biopsychosocial factors and disordered eating among Malaysian university students. A self-administered questionnaire measured self-esteem, body image, social pressures to be thin, weight-related teasing, psychological distress, and disordered eating in 584 university students (59.4% females and 40.6% males). Body weight and height were measured. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed that the partial mediation model provided good fit to the data. Specifically, the relationships between self-esteem and weight-related teasing with disordered eating were mediated by psychological distress. In contrast, only direct relationships between body weight status, body image, and social pressures to be thin with disordered eating were found and were not mediated by psychological distress. Furthermore, multigroup analyses indicated that the model was equivalent for both genders but not for ethnic groups. There was a negative relationship between body weight status and psychological distress for Chinese students, whereas this was not the case among Malay students. Intervention and prevention programs on psychological distress may be beneficial in reducing disordered eating among Malaysian university students.     

Negative emotion and disordered eating among obese college students

The present study examined the relationship between negative emotions, body dissatisfaction, exercise, and disordered eating attitudes and behaviors among obese college students. It also examined whether there were gender differences in these variables. A total of 88 males and 102 females, who reported a BMI score above 30, completed a survey. Females reported higher levels of disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, and more frequent dieting than males and as predicted, males reported higher levels of exercise behaviors. Body dissatisfaction, anger discomfort, and self dissatisfaction all correlated with drive for thinness for both genders. Anger discomfort was the only variable to predict disordered eating for both genders. The results support numerous studies that have found that females are at greater risk of disordered eating than males, and also suggest that anger management may be an important component in treatment of disordered eating among obese young adults.     

The effects of avoidance coping and coping self-efficacy on eating disorder attitudes and behaviors: A stress-diathesis model

The present study employed a series of stress-diathesis models to examine whether avoidance coping and poor coping self-efficacy contribute to disordered eating attitudes and behaviors in a sample of college students. The sample included one hundred fifteen undergraduate students (28.7% male; 71.3% female). Participants completed self-report measures to assess daily stressors, coping style, coping self-efficacy, and eating disorder attitudes and behaviors. As predicted, among students with an avoidance coping style, those who reported more daily stressors exhibited higher eating disorder attitudes and behaviors than those with less daily hassles. Contrary to study hypothesis, number of daily hassles did not moderate the association between coping self-efficacy and eating disorder attitudes and behaviors. However, there was a significant main effect for coping self-efficacy, suggesting that students who lack confidence in their coping abilities are more likely to have problematic eating attitudes and behaviors, regardless of their level of daily stress. Clinically, results suggest that students who enter college with an avoidance coping style and poor coping self-efficacy may be at risk for disordered eating, particularly with the onset of associated stress. Teaching students active problem-focused coping skills to deal with daily hassles associated with college life, and providing opportunities for repeated practice to bolster self-efficacy, may help prevent and/or reduce disordered eating attitudes and behaviors.     

Social adjustment over 10 years following diagnosis with bulimia nervosa

OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to describe social adjustment among women diagnosed with bulimia nervosa more than a decade earlier. METHOD: A cohort of women who were diagnosed with bulimia nervosa between 1981 and 1987 were located and invited to participate in follow-up assessments. RESULTS: Although the current sample demonstrated considerable improvement in disordered eating behaviors and social adjustment, measures of social adjustment suggested continued impairment in interpersonal relationships and only a modest association with eating disorder outcome. DISCUSSION: Continued difficulties in social adjustment may reflect an underlying vulnerability from which disordered eating developed. Treatments for bulimia nervosa may benefit from including interpersonal skills training.     

福建省高中生不良饮食行为现状及影响因素分析

目的了解福建省高中学生不良饮食行为发生情况,为制定干预措施提供依据。方法用分层整群抽样法,选取全省27所高中（职高）7 848名学生进行问卷调查。结果福建省高中生中存在多种饮食不良行为,有54.8%吃蔬菜〈2次/d,53.6%吃水果〈1次/d,35.3%不喝或较少喝牛奶,32.9%偏食,24.0%吃甜点≥1次/d。多种不良行为发生率男生高于女生,职高学生高于其他高中。结论福建省高中学生饮食习惯存在许多问题,应根据城乡、不同类别学校和不同性别的特点,采取针对性干预措施。     

Disordered eating attitudes and behaviors,psychological adjustment,and ethnic identity: A comparison of black and white female college students

The low prevalence of restrictive eating disorders among black women has been attributed primarily to cultural differences in the definition of beauty. Utilizing self-report measures, this study examined differences in the nature of disordered eating behaviors for black and for white female college students. Analyses of covariance and correlational tests revealed that white females demonstrated significantly greater disordered eating attitudes and behaviors than black females. Additionally, the data indicated that although disordered eating behaviors and attitudes are related to actual weight problems for black females, this is not the case for white females. Furthermore, this study is the first to provide evidence that restrictive eating disorders among black women are related to the degree to which they assimilate to mainstream culture. Finally disordered eating behaviors and attitudes were related to depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem in both groups. © 1993 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Disordered eating and gender socialization in independent-school environments: a multilevel mediation model

Schools play a primary function in adolescent socialization, including the adoption of gender-role attitudes and behaviors (Brody et al., Gender and the culture of schools, Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA, 1998). Despite the association between gender-role attitudes and disordered eating, particularly since the second wave of the Women's Movement (Boskind-Lodahl, Signs: Journal of Woman in Culture and Society, 2, 342-356, 1976; Palazzoli, Self-starvation, London: Chancer, 1974), schools have rarely been studied in the eating disorder literature. The present study sought to address this gap by first developing a measure, the School Gender Socialization Scale (SGSS), to assess a school's gendered social climate. Using the SGSS, a direct relationship was hypothesized and supported between the degree of conflict with respect to gender-role norms experienced by the female students at a school and the severity of eating problems reported there. A multilevel mediation process demonstrating how the gendered social climate of a school leads to greater disordered eating is suggested. Schools rated higher on conflicting gender-role norms evidence greater numbers of students idealizing the Superwoman construct, which is characterized by unyielding autonomy, exceptional standards for achievement, and an ultra-thin body. In accordance with feminist theory, adolescents idealizing the Superwoman tend to report more eating disturbances. Implications regarding eating disorder prevention efforts in school systems are discussed.     

Peer Reviewed: Screening High School Students for Eating Disorders: Results of a National Initiative

Introduction

Early identification and treatment of disordered eating and weight control behaviors may prevent progression and reduce the risk of chronic health consequences.

Methods

The National Eating Disorders Screening Program coordinated the first-ever nationwide eating disorders screening initiative for high schools in the United States in 2000. Students completed a self-report screening questionnaire that included the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and items on vomiting or exercising to control weight, binge eating, and history of treatment for eating disorders. Multivariate regression analyses examined sex and racial/ethnic differences.

Results

Almost 15% of girls and 4% of boys scored at or above the threshold of 20 on the EAT-26, which indicated a possible eating disorder. Among girls, we observed few significant differences between ethnic groups in eating disorder symptoms, whereas among boys, more African American, American Indian, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Latino boys reported symptoms than did white boys. Overall, 25% of girls and 11% of boys reported disordered eating and weight control symptoms severe enough to warrant clinical evaluation. Of these symptomatic students, few reported that they had ever received treatment.

Conclusion

Population screening for eating disorders in high schools may identify at-risk students who would benefit from early intervention, which could prevent acute and long-term complications of disordered eating and weight control behaviors.     

北京与河北城市中学生饮食行为比较

目的 了解2005年北京市与河北省城市中学生饮食行为现状及差异,为制定相应干预措施提供科学依据.方法 抽取北京市和河北省中学生共18 259名,采用"中国青少年健康相关行为调查问卷"进行调查.结果 北京市中学生大量喝软饮料、吃甜点和西式快餐等不健康饮食行为的报告率高于河北省中学生;而每天吃早餐、经常喝牛奶等健康饮食行为的报告率也高于河北省中学生.母亲文化程度越高,中学生健康与不健康饮食行为的报告率越高.河北省初中生饮食存在的问题多于高中生,北京市初、高中生饮食行为差异无统计学意义.结论 社会经济发展水平较高城市中学生不健康饮食行为较多.应结合中学生的特征制定相应措施,加强健康饮食的全民宣教工作.     

新疆兵团中学生不健康饮食行为现状分析

目的分析兵团中学生不健康饮食行为及其不同类型学校间差异,为针对性制定预防计划及干预措施提供依据。方法采用整群分层随机抽样方法,采用北京大学儿童青少年研究所2008年编制的《中国青少年健康危险行为调查问卷》,对40所不同类型学校共17 541名中学生的不健康饮食行为进行调查和统计分析。结果男、女生不健康饮食行为检出率分别为：除频繁喝软饮料0.96%和0.73%（χ2=4.193,P〉0.05）差异无统计学意义外,频繁吃甜点心6.17%和10.42%（χ2=247.12,P〈0.01）;频繁吃西式快餐2.31%和2.79%（χ2=63.597,P〈0.01）;偏食30.28%和39.46%（χ2=30.954,P〈0.01）;不喝牛奶25.03%和15.88%（χ2=1 013.734,P〈0.01）;不吃早餐24.04%和24.60%（χ2=448.421,P〈0.01）;不健康减肥行为16.10%和31.88%（χ2=21.127,P〈0.01）。各种行为检出率有明显的性别、年级、不同类型学校间差异,兵团中学生频繁吃西式快餐、不喝牛奶、不吃早餐状况高于全国2005年水平,不良饮食习惯聚集性高;重点初中和职业高中生是不健康减肥行为的重点干预人群。结论兵团中学生不健康饮食行为严重,应加强兵团中学生不健康饮食行为的预防,通过健康促进学校,开展生活技能教育等措施实施。     

北京市石景山区中学生饮食行为状况分析

目的 了解北京市石景山区中学生的饮食行为状况及其影响因素,为采取针对性的营养干预措施提供科学依据.方法 采用典型抽样方法,抽取石景山区6所中学,各学校再以班级为单位进行整群随机抽样,对所抽取班级的全体学生l 252名进行《中国青少年健康相关行为调查问卷》调查.结果 中学生的健康饮食行为中,过去7d里,每天至少吃1次新鲜水果、每天至少吃1次蔬菜、至少5d喝牛(豆)奶、至少5d吃早餐的报告率分别为52.62％,79.98％,54.52％,76.69％.非健康饮食行为中,过去30 d里,每天至少1次或以上喝汽水饮料报告率为22.23％;过去7d里,每天至少1次或以上吃甜点、每天至少1次或以上吃油炸食品、至少3d吃西餐、至少3d吃路边摊的报告率分别为26.66％,11.07％,5.70％,8.85％;偏食报告率为40.31％.家庭类型、父亲职业、母亲学历、是否住宿、学习成绩等是某些饮食行为的影响因素.中学生认为自己体重偏重的占42.83％,采取体育锻炼来减肥的占65.82％,同时还存在多种不健康的减肥行为.结论 应加强对中学生良好饮食行为的培养,并对不健康减肥行为开展有效的营养干预.     

Risk for disordered eating relates to both gender and ethnicity for college students

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the frequency of disordered eating behaviors among college students and associations by gender, ethnicity, participation in social organizations and college athletics and to determine whether responses to eight health behavior and attitude questions and body weight predicted a high score on the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT)-26, a screening instrument used to identify risks of developing an eating disorder. METHODS: Subjects were a convenience sample of 1,899 college students (cleaned to 1620) who attended four classes, were members of 14 sororities or lived in five residence halls. Students reported height and weight and responded to the EAT-26 and eight items regarding health behaviors and attitudes. RESULTS: Among women and men, 4.5% and 1.4%, respectively, reported previous treatment for an eating disorder, and 10.9% of women and 4.0% of men were at risk for eating disorders (scores > or = 20 on EAT). Among African-Americans, 8.3% of women were at risk. One group of women who lived separately in a social sorority had the highest risk of 15%. The frequency of "weight concerns interfering with academic performance" and "eliminating high fat foods" was moderately correlated to risk for disordered eating for both genders. Body mass only weakly related to risk for disordered eating and the association varied by subgroup. CONCLUSION: Students at risk for disordered eating report weight concerns interfering with their academic performance and include both men and African-Americans, as well as Caucasian American women. Sorority women living in separate residences might be at increased risk.     

中小学生饮食行为与超重、肥胖关系的研究

目的了解中小学生饮食行为与肥胖关系及其影响因素。方法采用分层随机抽样的方法,对上海市卢湾区6所学校1 228名中小学生及其家长进行问卷调查。结果 62.2%的中小学生有特别的食物偏好。大多数的中小学生有吃零食习惯,碳酸饮料和西式快餐食用率很高。早餐的食用情况良好,但存在营养搭配问题。超重及肥胖男孩比例高于女孩、小学生比例高于中学生。超重在不同性别间差异有统计学意义,肥胖在不同性别、年龄间差异有统计学意义。结论中小学生的饮食行为有待改进;预防和控制不良饮食行为需要社会、家庭和学校共同参与,尤其是加强对母亲的营养指导。