Abstract
Objective
To compare the prevalence of eating disorders (ED), socio-cultural risk factors, and body image characteristics in two populations of female adolescents, one Mexican and one Spanish, from similar socio-economic backgrounds.
Method
A total of 467 Spanish and 329 Mexican girls aged from 11–12 to 17–18 years were assessed using the Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26), the CETCA (Eating Disorders Assessment Questionnaire), the CIMEC (Questionnaire on Influences on Body Shape Model), and a survey of socio-demographic and risk factors produced for this study.
Results
One out of four subjects showed a significant risk of an eating disorder and 6–7% probably already had one. No significant differences were found between the two samples. Significant differences were found in risk behaviors: more Spanish girls reported body dissatisfaction and binging; more Mexican girls had a history of psychiatric and psychological treatment, pressure from parents and friends to lose weight, dieting, physical activity and vomiting to lose weight, and a history of greater weight loss. In both the groups around 50% of subjects wanted to increase the size of their breasts. However, significantly more Mexican girls desired thinner arms and narrower shoulders and back, and more Spanish girls wanted thinner hips, buttocks, and legs, parts of the body that many Mexicans wanted to increase.
Conclusions
Risk behaviors and the ideal body models of these Spanish and Mexican adolescent girls varied significantly, indicating major socio-cultural differences. However, the prevalence of ED was similar. Further research should aim to clarify whether the similarities found between this Spanish sample and a Mexican sample taken from an upper-middle class urban environment, a minority that is unrepresentative of the general population, are also observed in samples from other sectors of Mexican society.
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Appendix
Appendix
Appendix. The Eating Disorders Assessment Questionnaire (CETCA)
1. Have you missed your period during the last three months? |
2. Have you lost more than 5 kilos in the last six months? |
3. Are you scared of gaining weight even though other people think you’re thin? |
4. Do you think you’re fat even though other people say you’re thin? |
5. Do you think that some part of your body is too big? (e.g., your thighs, your bottom, your stomach...) |
6. Do you ever eat a lot – and feel you have no control over your eating – even though it makes you feel unhappy or upset? |
7. Do you ever make yourself vomit in order to avoid gaining weight? |
8. Do you ever use laxatives to avoid gaining weight? |
9. Do you often worry about your weight or about the shape of your body? |
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Toro, J., Gomez-Peresmitré, G., Sentis, J. et al. Eating disorders and body image in Spanish and Mexican female adolescents. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 41, 556–565 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0067-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0067-x