Abnormal eating attitudes in secondary-school girls in South Africa--a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
To document the existence of eating attitudes that may reflect current, pre- or subclinical eating disorders. To establish preliminary prevalence figures for abnormal eating attitudes.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey of eating attitudes.


METHODS
Non-clinical, community-based.


METHODS
Female high-school pupils.


METHODS
Total score derived from a self-report questionnaire, Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), which measures eating attitudes. Factor profile describing dimensions of eating-related psychopathology, derived from the clustering of questions on the EAT-26.


CONCLUSIONS
An overall prevalence figure of abnormal eating attitudes of 21.66% was documented. Black pupils had a higher prevalence than white pupils (37.5% v. 20.67%). The factor profile of respondents with abnormal eating attitudes did not differ between the race groups, although within the total sample, black respondents had a significantly stronger drive toward thinness. A significant developmental continuum was established, with prevalence figures for abnormal eating attitudes increasing with each standard from Standard 7 onward. The study provides preliminary epidemiological data on the prevalence of adolescent girls either suffering from or at risk of the development of an eating disorder. In addition, the study also provides evidence of the need for intervention strategies that commence in the pre-teen years.
Szabo
C P
CP
Eating Disorders Unit, K Moross Centre, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Hollands
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D044383:Black People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires