title: Weight limits, estimations of future BMI, subjective pubertal timing and physical appearance comparisons among adolescent girls as precursors of disturbed eating behaviour in a community sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  From a clinical point of view, a high 'objective' BMI or an early biological onset of puberty are well-known risk factors for eating disorders. In contrast, little is known about irrational beliefs and subjective meanings of body weight and pubertal timing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mostly using standardised questionnaires, 136 girls with an average age of 12 years were asked to report their eating behaviour, (body) self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, weight limits, estimations of future BMI, subjective pubertal timing and appearance-related social comparisons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed significant correlations between disturbed eating behaviour and the existence of a weight limit, which was reported by 45% of the girls. Twenty two per cent wished to have a future BMI beneath the 10th percentile. In terms of pubertal timing, girls who perceived themselves as either 'early starters' or 'late starters' reported significantly more risky eating behaviour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results are discussed with a focus on the psychotherapeutic use of our findings as well as the opportunity for the development of preventive strategies.
authors: Institute of Psychosocial Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany. uwe.berger@uni-jena.de
authors: Uwe
authors: U
authors: Berger
authors: Katharina
authors: K
authors: Weitkamp
authors: Bernhard
authors: B
authors: Strauss
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003469:Culture; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D005858:Germany; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D011627:Puberty / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013851:Thinness / Q000523:psychology