Prevalence of self-induced vomiting and laxative/medication abuse among female adolescents: a longitudinal study.
In order to assess the prevalence and stability of weight reduction techniques utilized by adolescent females, three comprehensive samples of middle school and high school students (ages 12-18) were surveyed in the springs of 1984, 1989, and 1992. All participants were enrolled in the same school district to ensure that the groups were demographically equivalent. The results demonstrated a significant decrease in the use of appetite suppressants among high school students. However, middle school females reported a significant increase in medication use and self-induced vomiting during the same 7-year period. Laxative abuse has persisted unchanged for a small segment of both populations.
Phelps
L
L
School psychology program, State University of New York at Buffalo.
Andrea
R
R
Rizzo
F G
FG
Johnston
L
L
Main
C M
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D002032:Bulimia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002400:Cathartics; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014839:Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015431:Weight Loss
D002400:Cathartics