Nutrition knowledge in young women with eating disorders in Australia and Singapore: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to compare nutrition knowledge levels in young women with and without an eating disorder (ED) in two countries.


METHODS
Women with a clinical ED (n = 55) and healthy control women (n = 99) in Australia and Singapore completed a Nutritional Knowledge Questionnaire, acculturation questionnaire and demographics survey. Nutrition knowledge was analysed in terms of clinical status, cultural group, acculturation, socioeconomic status and education level. results: Women with EDs had greater knowledge than controls, but the magnitude of the difference was small. Greater acculturation to Western culture was associated with greater knowledge.


CONCLUSIONS
The difference in nutrition knowledge between women with and without EDs is unlikely to be of clinical importance. The findings may reflect today's ubiquitous availability of nutrition information.
Soh
Nerissa Li-Wey
NL
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service, Coral Tree Family Service, North Ryde, NSW 1670, Australia. nsoh@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Touyz
Stephen W
SW
Dobbins
Timothy A
TA
Surgenor
Lois J
LJ
Clarke
Simon
S
Kohn
Michael R
MR
Lee
Ee Lian
EL
Leow
Vincent
V
Rieger
Elizabeth
E
Ung
Ken Eng Khean
KE
Walter
Garry
G
D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001315:Australia; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012846:Singapore; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires