Survey on Eating Disorders Related Thoughts, Behaviors and Dietary Intake in Female Junior High School Students in Taiwan

臺灣國中女生對病態飲食行為相關的思維、行為及飲食攝取狀況

10.6133/apjcn.2011.20.2.09

Mei-Rong Tsai；Yu-Jhen Chang；Pei-Ju Lien；Yue-Ching Wong

病態飲食行為 ； 體型意識 ； 飲食態度測驗 ； 國中女生 ； eating disorders ； body image ； EAT-26 ； body shape-related teasing ； female junior high school students

Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition

20卷2期（2011 / 06 / 01）

196 - 205

英文

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate body weight satisfaction, eating attitudes and dietary intake related to eating disorders of female junior high school students in Taiwan. METHODS: In a crosssectional survey, 835 female junior high school students participated in this study. The questionnaire items included respondents' demographic information as well as weight and body image concerns. Developmental and attitudinal scales such as the body shape-related teasing scale, Pubertal Development Scale, Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and 24-hour dietary recall were also used to collect data. Data were analyzed using a Student's t test, chi-square test and logistic regression. RESULTS: Disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors were found in 10.4 % of participants (measured by EAT-26≥20). The multivariate logistic regressions showed that disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors were associated with weight/shape-related teasing experiences and dissatisfaction with body weight. The reported intakes of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, cholesterol, zinc and vitamins B-6, B-12, were significantly lower in participants with disturbed eating patterns than in participants without disturbed eating. Conversely, participants with disturbed eating patterns had higher dietary and crude fiber intake than participates without disturbed eating. CONCLUSION: Disturbed eating behaviors exist among female adolescents in Taiwan, and these behaviors jeopardize their necessary dietary intake requirements. More research using the EAT-26 as a measure to predict the quality and quantity of food intake among female adolescents warrants further study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate body weight satisfaction, eating attitudes and dietary intake related to eating disorders of female junior high school students in Taiwan. METHODS: In a crosssectional survey, 835 female junior high school students participated in this study. The questionnaire items included respondents' demographic information as well as weight and body image concerns. Developmental and attitudinal scales such as the body shape-related teasing scale, Pubertal Development Scale, Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and 24-hour dietary recall were also used to collect data. Data were analyzed using a Student's t test, chi-square test and logistic regression. RESULTS: Disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors were found in 10.4 % of participants (measured by EAT-26≥20). The multivariate logistic regressions showed that disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors were associated with weight/shape-related teasing experiences and dissatisfaction with body weight. The reported intakes of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, cholesterol, zinc and vitamins B-6, B-12, were significantly lower in participants with disturbed eating patterns than in participants without disturbed eating. Conversely, participants with disturbed eating patterns had higher dietary and crude fiber intake than participates without disturbed eating. CONCLUSION: Disturbed eating behaviors exist among female adolescents in Taiwan, and these behaviors jeopardize their necessary dietary intake requirements. More research using the EAT-26 as a measure to predict the quality and quantity of food intake among female adolescents warrants further study.