title: Eating disorder symptoms among Japanese female students in 1982, 1992 and 2002.
abstract: To study transcultural differences in eating disorders, we examined eating disorder symptoms and point prevalence of eating disorders among Japanese female students in 1982, 1992 and 2002. In 1982, 1992 and 2002, a total of 10,499 Japanese female students, aged 16-23 years, were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Diagnosis of an eating disorder was made on the basis of DSM-IV criteria. On almost all measures, there were significant increases of a disordered attitude about fear of gaining weight, body perception disturbance and problematic eating behaviors over time. The point prevalence of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and eating disorder not otherwise specified significantly increased over time. These results suggest that the prevalence of eating disorder symptoms and the point prevalence of eating disorders were increasing among Japanese female students in 2002. Changing socio-cultural factors in Japan may explain the dramatic increase of eating disorders over time.
authors.affiliation: Kyoto Institute of Health Sciences, Miyako Bldg 502, Nijyo Den-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: ynakai@helen.ocn.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshikatsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakai
authors.affiliation: Human Health Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anorexia nervosa; Bulimia nervosa; Eating disorders; Epidemiology