Disordered eating attitudes and behaviours in teenaged girls: a school-based study

Background: Disordered eating attitudes and behaviours are common in older teens and young women in Western countries. Recent evidence suggests that t he prevalence of these disorders is rising and that the age of onset has fa llen. In the present study, disturbed eating attitudes and behaviours were evaluated in a large school-based population in Ontario in order to determi ne their prevalence and demographic distribution. Methods: Females, aged 12-18 years, from schools in Toronto, Hamilton and O ttawa were invited to,complete questionnaires, including 3 subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory (Drive for Thinness, Body Dissatisfaction, Bulim ia), the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and the Diagnostic Survey for Ea ting Disorders (DSED). Results: Questionnaires were completed by 1739 (70%) of the 2483 adolescent females who were approached. The mean age of subjects in the sample was 14 .6 (standard deviation 1.9) years. Thirteen percent of those aged 12-14 yea rs and 16% of those aged 15-18 years had scores above the recommended cut-o ff (greater than or equal to 20) for disordered eating on the EAT-26. Curre nt dieting to lose weight was reported by 23% of participants., Binge eatin g with associated loss of control was reported by 15% of participants, self -induced vomiting by 8.2% and the use of diet pills by 2.4%. Laxative and d iuretic misuse were uncommon. Dieting was associated with an increased risk of binge-eating and purging behaviours. Older age and body mass index in t he highest quartile were independently related to symptoms of eating disord ers. Interpretation: Disordered eating attitudes and behaviours were present in over 27% of girls aged 12-18 years and were seen to increase gradually thro ughout adolescence. Prevention programs to diminish the progression and imp act of these disorders should be implemented and assessed.