Children's body image concerns and eating disturbance: A review of the literature

In recent years a large number of studies have examined body image concerns , and early symptoms of eating disturbance among children. However, to date there has been no synthesis or evaluation of these studies. The purpose of the present article is to review and evaluate the research that has examin ed body image concerns, and eating attitudes and behaviors among children 6 to 11 gears of age. The instruments used to assess body image concerns and eating disturbance in children closely resemble those used with adolescent s and adults. Overall, the psychometric data for these instruments are very goad and there is sufficient evidence indicating that they can be used rel iably and validly. In addition, similar variables to those studied in adole scent and adult samples have been found to be associated with children's bo dy image concerns and early eating disturbance These include gender, age, b ody mass index, race, sociocultural pressures, and self-concept. Our unders tanding of the development of body image concerns and eating disturbance in children is limited, however, by the fact that most of the research in thi s field has been based on cross-sectional data, and the studies have focuse d almost exclusively on weight-loss cognitions and behaviors. (C) 2001 Else vier Science Ltd.