Abstract
Aim
To examine factors (individual, familiar and socio-cultural) associated with body dissatisfaction (BD) by gender in non-clinical adolescents at risk of eating disorders (rED) and in a control group (CG).
Subjects and methods
A total of 2,967 adolescent students was screened using the Eating Attitudes Test-40 and the Youth’s Inventory-4. Of these, 217 students (161 girls and 56 boys) identified as being at rED were chosen for the study, and 208 students (168 girls and 40 boys) were chosen as the CG. The subjects were given the Body Areas Satisfaction Test, the Youth’s Inventory-4, a questionnaire to evaluate social influences on the “model of thinness” (SI-MT), the Family Environment Scale, and their body mass index (BMI) was determined.
Results
BD frequency in at-risk girls (44.6%) was significantly higher than in boys (27.3%). Girls at rED were most dissatisfied with their weight. BMIs were significantly higher and energy intake was significantly lower in dissatisfied girls than in satisfied girls at rED. In girls at rED, multiple linear regression analyses showed that SI-MT factors and dysthymia were associated with BD. In the CG, higher BMI were associated with BD. These relationships were not found in adolescent boys.
Conclusion
Within the at-risk group, adolescents with BD had higher BMIs, consumed fewer calories, were more influenced by socio-cultural factors and had more emotional issues than those who were satisfied. We suggest that although high BMIs are associated with BD, the interaction with other social and psychopathological characteristics increases the risk of the development of eating disorders.
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Acknowledgments
This project was supported by Health Research Funds from the Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs (ref. 01/1364). We would like to thank to Mr John Bates, the head of English language department of the Rovira I Virgili University, for the translation of the manuscript.
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Babio, N., Arija, V., Sancho, C. et al. Factors associated with body dissatisfaction in non-clinical adolescents at risk of eating disorders. J Public Health 16, 107–115 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-007-0133-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-007-0133-1