OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to compare eating behaviours, body image, and depressive symptoms in eating disordered women with a demographically matched healthy control sample to evaluate the predictors of eating behaviour. METHODS: 150 women (75 in the Eating Disorders Group-EDG and 75 in Healthy Control Group-HCG) participated in the study. All participants completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Photographic Figure Rating Scale for Women (PFRS). Body Mass Index (BMI) was also measured. RESULTS: HCG significantly differed from EDG in all study variables except body dissatisfaction. Positive correlations were found between EDE-Q and its subscales, PFRS, BDI, and BMI. Excluding body image distortion, the study variables together explained 49.1% of the variance in EDE-Q total scores, with body dissatisfaction being the most powerful after controlling for group differences. CONCLUSION: Women with EDs suffer more disordered eating behaviour, stronger depression symptoms, and lower BMI more than their healthy counterparts, although these factors are quite common in healthy women too. Body dissatisfaction, which is an important predictor of eating problems, is also equally prevalent in healthy controls. Finally, healthy women tend to underestimate their body size, which can be a protective factor against EDs.

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Objective: Deficits in motivation to change are common among individuals with eating disorders, yet there has been an absence of research on motivation in non-Western countries. The aim of this study was to develop measures of motivation to change based on the Anorexia Nervosa Stages of Change Questionnaire (ANSOCQ) and the Bulimia Nervosa Stages of Change Questionnaire (BNSOCQ) in a Turkish

College students are considered at-risk population for disordered eating behaviors and it is assumed that understanding the contributors of these behaviors can guide preventive studies. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the mediating role of body attitudes on the relationship between core beliefs and disordered eating behaviors in a college sample. The sample consisted of 729 students (200 male and 529 female) in various universities from six different cities in Turkey. A sociodemographic form, Body Image Questionnaire, Eating Disorders Belief Questionnaire, Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale were used. The results suggested that core beliefs had an effect on disordered eating behaviors via body attitudes partially, which show consistency with cognitive theories and previous studies. Hence, it is essential that the prevention programs should consider these risk factors.

ÖZBu çalışmada yeme bozukluğu vakalarında hastalık yaşantısını anlamak ve grup sürecinde yaşanan ortak deneyimleri nitel yöntemle incelemek amaçlanmıştır. İstanbul Üniversitesi İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi Psikiyatri Anabilim Dalı Yeme Bozukluğu Birimi'nden yeme bozukluğu tanısı almış dört kadın vakayla yapılan sekiz seanslık grup psikoterapi süreci fenomenolojik araştırma deseni kullanılarak incelenmiştir. Verilerin analizi sonucunda yeme bozukluğu vakalarının paylaştıkları ortak deneyimler; hastalık yaşantısı ve grup süreci olmak üzere iki ana tema altında toplanmıştır. Hastalık yaşantısı; yemek, beden imgesi, hastalığın hayata etkisi, bilişsel faktörler, duygusal faktörler, hastalık seyri, hastalıkla ilgili zihni meşguliyet, kadınlığın inkârı, kilo ve zayıflık, hastalığa yönelik atıflar, egzersiz ve kendini ötekileştirme alt temalarından oluşmaktadır. Grup süreci ise; şimdi ve burada, evrensellik, terapistle ilişki, gruba yönelik kaygılar, umut aşılama, gruba bağlılık ve grubun etkisi alt temalarını kapsamaktadır. Çalışmamızdaki vakaların hastalık yaşantısı ve grup süreciyle ilgili yaşantılarında ortaya çıkan temaların yeme bozukluğu literatürüyle tutarlı olduğu görülmektedir. Araştırma bulgularının yeme bozukluğu alanında hem hastalığın anlaşılması hem de etkili tedavilerin geliştirilmesi açısından klinik uygulamalara katkı sağlayacağı düşünülmektedir. ABSTRACTThe aim of this study is to understand the illness experience and describe the common themes in the group process with a qualitative research method. Four women with an eating disorder diagnosis from the Eating Disorders Unit in Istanbul University, Psychiatry Department attended eight sessions group psychotherapy. Group process was examined with a phenomenological research design. According to the results, two major themes were found; illness experience and group process. Illness experience includes food, body image, impact of disorder, cognitive factors, emotional factors, prognosis, preoccupation, denial of femininity, weight and thinness, attitudes towards illness, exercise and selfothering. Group process includes; here and now, universality, relationship with therapist, anxiety toward group, instillation of hope, group cohesiveness and group efficacy. Major themes about illness experience and group process are consistent with the eating disorders literature. It is assumed that research findings could contribute clinical practices in the field of eating disorders in terms of understanding the disease and the development of effective treatments.