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An epidemiologic study of maladaptive eating attitudes in a Canadian school age population
Author(s) -
Leichner Pierre,
Arnett John,
Rallo Joseph S.,
Srikameswaran Suja,
Vulcano Brent
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/1098-108x(198609)5:6<969::aid-eat2260050602>3.0.co;2-p
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , overweight , eating disorders , bulimia nervosa , eating attitudes test , population , psychology , anorexia , public health , clinical psychology , gerontology , psychiatry , medicine , demography , obesity , environmental health , nursing , sociology
Although cases of anorexia nervosa and bulimia are being seen increasingly by health care professionals, little data is available on the prevalence of these disorders in the general population of school age children. Using a validated eating attitude test (EAT), a total of 5150 students, aged 12–20, from public schools and one university in the Province of Manitoba were surveyed. Overall, 5% of males and 22% of females scored 30 or above on the scale, suggesting significant concerns and attitudes regarding eating. These concerns were somewhat higher in urban versus rural settings and seemed to increase between the ages of 12 and 13 and remain high thereafter. Many of the students who scored high on the EAT were overweight, suggesting that these attitudes or concerns are not specific to anorexia nervosa and/or bulimia.