Eating behavior in an adolescent population

An anonymous questionnaire on eating behavior and attitudes was administered to the student body of a coeducational private preparatory school. There were 424 males and 337 females, ranging in age from 13 to 19 years and representing 86.5% of the available student body, who completed the questionnaire. Results indicated a high frequency of concern with weight, body image, and dieting, particularly among women. In particular the female subjects reported high frequencies of binge eating, fasting, crash dieting, and feeling obese. A sizable number of women reported self-induced vomiting and amenorrhea secondary to weight loss. These concerns and behaviors were more highly correlated with subjects' opinions about the desirability of their weight rather than with their reported body weight (prorated for height and age). There were 4.0% of women and 0.8% of men who answered questions that would meet strict DSM III criteria for bulimia. These results provide additional evidence that troubled eating behavior and attitudes towards weight and body image are widespread among adolescent women.