Prevalence of eating disorders in students

A sample of 507 social work students completed the Bulimic Investigatory Te st Edinburgh (BITE). Simulating diagnoses according to DSM-IV criteria, we found three women suffering from bulimia nervosa (BN). This represents a to tal prevalence of 0.6%, 0.8% in women,and 0.9% in female probands up to the age of 30 years. In the same way, we identified one case of anorexia nervo sa (AN), i.e. a total prevalence of 0.2%, 0,3% in women,and 0.3% in female probands up to the age of 30. Nineteen students also fulfilled DSM-IV resea rch criteria for binge-eating disorder(BED), showing a total prevalence of 3.7%, 3.8% in women, 3.5% in men,and 4.3% in female probands up to the age of 30. Thus, BED is the most common eating disorder and also occurs in men. In light of the association between weight discontent and eating disorders , suggestions are made for the management of overweight patients and both n ormal and underweight clients with eating disorders.