Problem eating attitudes and behaviors in young children.
OBJECTIVE
The factor structure of the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT) and the predictors of problem eating were examined in young boys and girls.


METHODS
Two hundred and twenty eight children from Grades 2 and 4 completed questionnaires which examined problem eating attitudes and behaviors, body image, and self-concepts.


RESULTS
Four factors were found for girls and boys. The girls' four factors, Dieting, Food Preoccupation, Social Pressure to Eat, and Restricting and Purging, corresponded closely to previous studies with older girls and women. Four different factors were found for the boys, Global Problems, Dieting versus Purging, Dieting and Food Preoccupation, and Emotional Eating. However, dieting behaviors in both girls and boys were predicted by poorer body image and in boys emotional concerns about eating were predicted by poorer body image and lower self-concepts.


CONCLUSIONS
There is still relatively little research that has examined problem eating attitudes and behaviors of boys and men. As boys tend to report infrequent dieting, we may need to focus more on the emotional concerns about eating and becoming overweight as a potential indicator of eating problems in boys.
Kelly
C
C
School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
Ricciardelli
L A
LA
Clarke
J D
JD
D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D002666:Psychology, Child; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors