Prevalence and significance of weight and shape concerns in girls aged 11-16 years.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of the core ideational component of eating disorders among the at-risk population (11-to 16-year-old girls) is not known.


METHODS
A community survey of 11- to 16-year-old girls was conducted to establish the prevalence of significant concerns about body weight and shape characteristics of eating disorders. A total of 1068 girls were screened and 368 interviewed using standardised measures.


RESULTS
Significant weight and/or shape concerns were estimated to be present in 14.5% of the 11-to 12-year-olds, 14.9% of the 13-to 14-year-olds and 18.9% of the 15-to 16-year-olds. Only among those aged 15 to 16 was the presence of such concerns associated with a significant level of concurrent behavioural and ideational disturbance.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant concerns about weight or shape are present in almost one in five 15-to 16-year-old girls, many of whom evidence high levels of ancillary disturbance.
Cooper
P J
PJ
Department of Psychology, University of Reading, Whiteknights.
Goodyer
I
I
D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence