Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors toward Eating Disorders among Adolescents in Italy

Abstract

The objectives of this survey were to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward eating disorders among adolescents in Italy. The survey was undertaken between May and June 2017 among a random sample of 420 adolescents aged 14–20 years. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Only 22.8% correctly knew both the definition of anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Female, overweight or obese individuals, and who had at least one parent with a college degree or higher level of education were more likely to have this knowledge. More than one third (38.8%) had a fear of getting fat. Female, overweight or obese individuals, who did not know the definition of anorexia and bulimia nervosa, who avoided eating when they were hungry, and who always and usually were engaged in dieting behavior were more likely to have a fear of getting fat. Only 10.1% and 11.9% always and usually were engaged in dieting behavior, and 40.8% never did so. Respondents who usually/always had a strong desire to be thinner and who had a fear of getting fat were more likely to be engaged in dieting behavior. There is an urgent need to inform Italian adolescents about eating disorders, and healthcare workers may play a crucial role in distributing eating disorder-related knowledge.

Incidence of Anorexia Nervosa in Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The explanations given for this result are varied, mainly related to special vulnerability to the barely achievable models and beauty standards conveyed by the media, as well as the physical, hormonal and emotional changes that take place in adolescence. This search for the perfect body causes an imbalance that leads to restrictive diets and eating behaviors [61,62]. The age of greatest risk for developing AN is between 10 and 24 years in women [55,[63][64][65].…”

Body Image Concern and Eating Disorder Symptoms Among Elite Icelandic Athletes

“…It is known that eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating, among others, are complicated to deal with, and that they constitute a public health problem [1]. We shall focus on anorexia and bulimia nervosa.…”

Knowledge Impact of Anorexia Nervosa on Adolescent Girls: An exploratory survey

“…Anorexia nervosa is a frequently, however not generally, related with aggravations of selfperception, the recognition that one is distressingly huge notwithstanding evident clinical starvation. (Napolitano et al, 2019) In contemporary society, females want to be thin. The elite classes and the so-called jet-setting citizens on the world both propagate and give in to the interest to be thin.…”