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Are there differences in the attitudinal body image between adolescent anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa?

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective: Body image dissatisfaction is as well a risk factor for eating disorders (ED) and a central feature of ED. The exact nature of body image in adolescent ED is still debated. This study examined attitudinal body image in adolescent anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), and the association of age, maturational timing, duration of eating disorder, actual weight and general psychological distress with the attitudinal body image in ED. Methods: The study group consisted of an outpatient clinical sample of adolescents attending for assessment because of eating disorders. The attitudinal body image of 57 adolescents (girls) aged 14–21 years was studied at the beginning of the treatment. The attitudes to body shape, body size, appearance, tone and femininity were studied by a Likert format scale and by the body dissatisfaction (BD) and drive for thinness scales (DT) from EDI-2 inventory. Results: Bulimics reported more body image dissatisfaction than anorectics. In multivariate analyses BN and higher general psychological distress had strong associations with body image dissatisfaction. Longer duration of ED and earlier menarche were also associated with negative body image. Discussion: Attitudinal body image differs between adolescent AN and BN. The psychological distress has a great impact on body image in ED, which should be taken into account in assessment and in treatment interventions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tampere School of Public Health, Tampere Medical School, University of Tampere, FIN, 33014, Finland

    J. Ruuska

  2. Psychiatric Treatment and Research Unit for Adolescent Intensive Care, Tampere University Hospital and Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Finland

    R. Kaltiala-Heino

  3. Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Tampere University Hospital, Finland

    J. Ruuska & P. Rantanen

  4. Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Finland

    A.-M. Koivisto

  5. Research Unit, Tampere University Hospital, Finland

    A.-M. Koivisto

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  1. J. Ruuska
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  2. R. Kaltiala-Heino
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  3. P. Rantanen
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  4. A.-M. Koivisto
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Correspondence to J. Ruuska.

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Ruuska, J., Kaltiala-Heino, R., Rantanen, P. et al. Are there differences in the attitudinal body image between adolescent anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa?. Eat Weight Disord 10, 98–106 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327531

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