Eating Attitudes and Weight Preoccupation Among Female High School Students in Japan

Abstract

Eating disorder tendencies in 197 eleventh grade Japanese girls were examined to ascertain whether or not the reported correlates of eating disorder tendencies in North America would be replicated in Japan. The 26-item Eating Attitudes Test was administered along with a set of supplementary questions. As hypothesized, higher levels of eating disturbances were found in the students who: (1) perceived themselves as being overweight, (2) had been encouraged to diet, (3) reported engaging in frequent conversations with their mother about food and dieting. Implications for future cross-cultural research are discussed.

Atitudes alimentares e imagem corporal em meninas adolescentes de ascendência nipônica e caucasiana em São Paulo (SP)

“…[1][2][3] In other studies, the levels of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders were higher in other ethnic groups. 4 The emergence of eating disorders has been associated with the process of westernization that emphasizes the desirability of thinness as a beauty ideal. 5,6 However, some studies 7,8 have not found a relationship between westernization and eating disorders.…”

“…10 Studies have demonstrated the influence of mothers, fathers and peers on body image and eating disorders. 4,[14][15][16] Our third objective was to analyze family and social-affective relationships in relation to adolescent eating behaviors within the two ethnic groups. Mothers play an important role in transmitting the nature and importance of women's sociocultural pressures to their daughters, by transmitting their own concerns with body weight and the aesthetic concept of thinness.…”

Eating attitudes and body image in ethnic Japanese and Caucasian adolescent girls in the city of São Paulo, Brazil

“…Alguns estudos apresentam altos índices de transtornos alimentares em meninas de origem caucasiana [1][2][3] . Em outros estudos, os níveis de insatisfação com o corpo e transtornos alimentares foram mais elevados em outros grupos étnicos 4 .…”

Comparison of Energy Intakes Estimated by Weighed Dietary Record and Diet History Questionnaire with Total Energy Expenditure Measured by Accelerometer in Young Japanese Women

“…On day 8, we distributed to each subject four kinds of self administered instruments regarding behavioral and psychological characteristics described below (Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) (27), Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) (28), Stunkard-Sorensen silhouettes (29), and Social Desir ability Scale (SDS) (30)), which were to be returned on day 12. We used the Japanese version of each instru ment (31)(32)(33)(34).…”