Eating attitudes among adolescents

Abstract

Introduction:Eating disorders are major problems in many countries of the world. They are especially prevalent during adolescence and early adulthood, because society equalizes thinnes with beauty and attractiveness in women. It is not suprising that women tend to be preoccupied with losing weight and acheaving a slim body at young age.Method:The study examined the relationship among BMI, diet, body satisfaction, weight and eating behaviour. Research of the semple includes high school students of both sex from Banjaluka aged between 15 and 18 (female 360, male 250). A sample of adolescents was screened with eating attitude test (EAT-26). They also answered to the questions about self reported weight and height, diet and body satisfaction.Results:Comparing self report of body satisfaction and BMI we found a statistical significance (p=0,0001) and frequency of using diets (p=0,0001). EAT was compared with BMI (p=0,07) and body satisfaction was statisticaly significant (p= 0,0001). BMI was also important for using diets (p=0,01).Conclusion:In the study we found relation between body satisfaction, BMI and frequency of using diets. It could be first the step in the development of eating disorders. BMI does not have influence on EAT score. It is necessary to use this knowledge in the feature to design preventive programs for individual risk of developing eating disorders and for directed interventions for changing socio cultural pressures on the behaviour.

Psychometric Quality of the Dutch Version of the Children's Eating Attitude Test in a Community Sample and a Sample of Overweight Youngsters

“…According to the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB, Ajzen, 1988; attitudes play a crucial role in predicting intentional behaviour (Meertens et al, 2007). As predicted by TPB, disturbed eating and body attitudes could be early signs of later maladaptive eating-and weight related problem behaviour (Haines & Neumark-Sztainer, 2006;Neumark-Sztainer, Wall, Haines, Story, Sherwood, & van den Berg, 2007;Spremo, Loga, Burgic, & Licanin, 2008). Dieting is assumed to function as the first link in the eating disorder chain.…”