Eating problems and personality traits. An Italian pilot study among 992 high school students.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of eating problems and to investigate personality traits associated with disturbed eating behaviours among Italian high school students.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study involving 992 students from six high schools in Turin, Italy. Students completed the Eating Attitudes Test-40 (EAT-40), the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ); their weight and height were measured.


RESULTS
5.5% of the whole sample and 7.4% of girls scored above the EAT-40 cutoff value. A higher Body Mass Index (BMI) correlates with higher EAT scores. Low scores on Self-Directedness and Reward Dependence together with high Persistence emerged in subjects with eating problems.


CONCLUSIONS
Dieting and higher BMI are confirmed as correlates of eating problems. Personality traits measured with the TCI emerge for the first time as correlates of eating problems. Longitudinal studies should clear whether these are risk factors or not.
Abbate-Daga
Giovanni
G
Psichiatria Universitaria CPR DCA, Ospedale San Giovanni Battista-Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry Section, University of Turin, Italy.
Gramaglia
Carla
C
Malfi
Giuseppe
G
Pierò
Andrea
A
Fassino
Secondo
S
D000293:Adolescent; D001290:Attitude / Q000208:ethnology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002605:Character; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament