Eating disturbances among adolescent schoolgirls in Jordan.
OBJECTIVE
Several studies indicated that the prevalence of eating disorders has increased among adolescent girls. The aim of the present study, therefore, is to investigate the occurrence and correlates of eating disorders among adolescent girls in Amman, Jordan.


METHODS
A sample of 432 adolescent girls aged 10-16 years were recruited from public and private schools in Amman. Information was collected from adolescent schoolgirls through a socio-demographic data sheet, eating attitude test, body shape and eating habits questionnaires.


RESULTS
One third of participants had eating disorders, including bulimia nervosa (0.6%), binge eating disorder (1.8%) and eating disorder not otherwise specified (31%), however no anorexic cases were found. Findings also suggested that pubertal, familial and social variables were associated with eating disorders occurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
Eating disturbances were prevalent among the present population sample. Participants have been more preoccupied with their body weight due to socio-cultural norms that are reinforced by media messages. Further research is needed to develop intervention programs to control eating disorders occurrence in Jordan.
Mousa
Tamara Yousef
TY
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Jordan, Amman 11196, P.O. Box 960364, Jordan. mousa_tamara@yahoo.com
Al-Domi
Hayder Abdullah
HA
Mashal
Rima Hussein
RH
Jibril
Musa Abdel-Khaleq
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011627:Puberty / Q000523:psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires