UNDER-EATING AND OVER-EATING CONCERNS AMONG ADOLESCENTS

462 adolescents were given a set of scales to determine their concerns about eating (under-eating or over-eating), and perceptions of family and peer intimacy, social support, self-esteem, depression and exerci se. Although only 10% stated that they were ''underweight'' and 21% th at they were ''overweight'', as many as 50% reported having eating con cerns. As compared to those who did not have concerns about eating, th ose who were concerned about undereating felt that they had poorer rel ationships with their mothers and fathers, less social support, lower self-esteem and low levels of exercise. In contrast, those who were co ncerned about overeating perceived having an intimacy problem only wit h their fathers. Like those concerned about undereating, the group con cerned about overeating also had lower self-esteem and low levels of e xercise. But, unlike the under-eating concern group, the over-eating c oncern group scored higher on the depression scale.