FOOD PREFERENCES, EATING PATTERNS, AND PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY AMONG ADOLESCENTS - CORRELATES OF EATING DISORDERS SYMPTOMS

Purpose: Food preferences, eating patterns, and physical activity patt erns were examined in a cohort of adolescent females and males partici pating in a longitudinal study of the developmental antecedents of eat ing disorders. Methods: All adolescents (n = 1494) in grades seven thr ough ten in an entire school district completed a survey about their d ieting behaviors, eating, and exercise patterns. Results: Principal co mponents analysis showed similar factor structures for food preference s and eating patterns among males and females. Gender differences were present in physical activity patterns. Sports participation was corre lated with healthy food preference and was a significant predictor of eating disorders symptoms. Junk food preference was marginally inverse ly related to eating disorders symptoms in females. Preference for oth er types of foods and reported intake of foods were not related to eat ing disorders symptoms. The percent of variance in risk score accounte d for by dietary intake and physical activity patterns was small. Conc lusions: Psychological and social/environmental variables may explain a larger proportion of the variance in eating disorders risk than the dietary and physical activity variables examined in this study. Implic ations for understanding the etiology and behavioral expression of eat ing disorders are discussed.