Patterns and prevalence of disordered eating and weight control behaviors in women ages 25-45.
OBJECTIVE
The current study describes detailed eating behaviors, dieting behaviors, and attitudes about shape and weight in 4023 women ages 25 to 45.


METHODS
The survey was delivered on-line and participants were identified using a national quota-sampling procedure.


RESULTS
Disordered eating behaviors, extreme weight loss measures, and negative cognitions about shape and weight were widely endorsed by women in this age group and were not limited to White participants. Thirty-one percent of women without a history of anorexia nervosa or binge eating reported having purged to control weight, and 74.5% of women reported that their concerns about shape and weight interfered with their happiness.


CONCLUSIONS
Unhealthy approaches to weight control and negative attitudes about shape and weight are pervasive even among women without eating disorders. The development of effective approaches to address the impact of these unhealthy behaviors and attitudes on the general well-being and functioning of women is required.
Reba-Harrelson
L
L
Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7160, USA.
Von Holle
A
A
Hamer
R M
RM
Swann
R
R
Reyes
M L
ML
Bulik
C M
CM
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054368:Laxatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012494:Sampling Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014839:Vomiting; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D001067:Appetite Depressants; D004232:Diuretics; D054368:Laxatives