title: Eating disturbances among adolescent schoolgirls in Jordan.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Jordan, Amman 11196, P.O. Box 960364, Jordan. mousa_tamara@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Tamara Yousef
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Mousa
authors.forename: Hayder Abdullah
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Al-Domi
authors.forename: Rima Hussein
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Mashal
authors.forename: Musa Abdel-Khaleq
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jibril
mesh_terms: 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