title: Disturbed eating tendency and related factors in grade four to six elementary school students in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated Taiwanese elementary school students' status in terms of body size, body satisfaction and disturbed eating tendencies.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional survey, 1,261 elementary school children from grades four to six participated in this study. We used an anonymous selfreported questionnaire, which included: demographics and body satisfaction; Children's Eating Attitude Test -26 (ChEAT-26); Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale; and Influence of Significant Others Scale and Media Impact Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that 58.4% of the children were of normal weight, and 32.7% of the boys and 22.2% of the girls were over-weight or obese. Moreover, 39% of the children wanted to be thinner. The mean ChEAT-26 score was 8.71±8.35, and 10.5% of the children were at high risk for disturbed eating tendencies (ChEAT-26≥20), including 8.4% of the boys and 12.6% of the girls. Scores on the ChEAT-26, Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale, Influence of Significant Others Scale and Media Impact Scale were positively correlated. The level of external control and the influence of significant others and the media were significantly higher in children with disturbed eating attitudes than in those without them. Multivariable logistic regressions showed that disturbed eating attitudes were associated with body satisfaction, locus of control, and the level of influence of significant others and the media.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Disturbed eating behaviors exist among elementary school students in Taiwan. This survey highlights the need for education in acquiring healthy mental attitudes and eating behaviors by elementary school students.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Chungshan Medical University, 110 Sec 1, Jien-Kuo North Road, Taichung City 402, TAWAIN, ROC wyc@csmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Yueching
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Yu-Jhen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shu-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Tsao
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology