Preliminary study of eating disorders among French female adolescents and young adults.
We have performed an exploratory study of eating disorders among female adolescents (N = 38) and young adult (N = 38) students living in Paris, France. A high percentage of the subjects in the adolescent (68.4%) and young adult (50%) groups displayed one or more atypical eating behaviors with grazing being prominent (60.5% and 42.1%, respectively) in both groups. Bulimia nervosa (DSM-III-R) was found only in the older group (3/38 vs. 0/38). Binge eating was significantly more frequent among the older subjects (12/38 vs. 1/38). Nicotine dependence and daily grazing with a history of grazing during childhood were reported in all subjects with bulimia nervosa (DSM-III-R). These data, while requiring replication in larger samples, indicate that atypical eating behaviors are common in the populations sampled. Furthermore, daily grazing (especially with a history of grazing during childhood) and nicotine dependence may be strongly associated with the development of bulimia nervosa.
Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Hopital International de L'Université de Paris, France.
S
S
Tordjman
C
C
Zittoun
G M
GM
Anderson
M
M
Flament
P
P
Jeammet
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002032:Bulimia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009538:Nicotine; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications
D009538:Nicotine