Jl. Fear et al., THE PREVALENCE OF DISORDERED EATING BEHAVIORS AND ATTITUDES IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS, New Zealand journal of psychology, 25(1), 1996, pp. 7-12
The prevalence of disordered eating behaviours and the nature of body
size estimation was examined in adolescent girls in Christchurch. Diff
erences in these behaviours between single-sex and co-ed schools were
also examined. Data were collected from 363 adolescent girls from thre
e co-ed and two single-sex secondary schools. Each subject completed t
he Eating Disorder Inventory-2 and the Figure Rating Scale. The result
s revealed a high prevalence of dieting (54%), binging (38%) and purgi
ng (up to 12%) in adolescent girls. The majority of the students (71%)
desired to be a smaller size than they perceived themselves to be. Th
ere were no differences between single-sex and coed schools on the cor
e disordered eating behaviours. This study showed that there are high
rates of disordered eating behaviours among adolescent girls and that
high body mass index and low socioeconomic status were associated with
greater eating disordered attitudes. The findings illustrate the need
for further research on prevention of unhealthy eating behaviours and
body image concerns that have become normative among young women.