Disordered eating attitudes among secondary schoolgirls in Al-Iskan sector, Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia
Journal Title: International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health - Year 2015, Vol 4, Issue 7
Abstract
Background: A growing number of individuals are showing inappropriate eating behaviors and attitudes without having severe forms. Early and prompt recognition of mild forms can prevent the severe ones. Objective: To estimate the prevalence and associated factors of disordered eating attitudes among secondary schoolgirls in Al-Iskan sector, Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted among a representative random sample of female secondary school students in Al-Iskan sector, Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire, the Arabic version of Eating Attitude Test–26 (EAT-26), was used. Anthropometric measurements of weight and height for students were taken. Results: The study included 180 female secondary school students. Their age ranged between 15 and 19 years with a mean of 16.83 and standard deviation of 0.94 years. Majority of them were Saudi (95.6%). Mean EAT-26 score for participants was 16.01±8.88. More than a quarter (26.1%) of adolescent girls scored 20 or above, which is the cutoff point of EAT-26, indicating negative eating attitudes. Almost two-thirds of them (61.7%) were normal weight whereas 18.9% of them were underweight. Overweight and obesity were observed among 11.7% and 7.8% of them, respectively. The highest rate of eating disorder (ED) was reported among underweight students (29.4%) whereas the lowest rate was reported among obese students (7.1%). However, the association between student’s body mass index and ED was not statistically significant ( p = 0.405). EDs are more prevalent in females who believe that others are comparing them with slimmer people; media has an impact on their efforts toward slimness and world fashion and style has a role on their trial to lose weight. Conclusion: The high prevalence of disordered eating attitudes among schoolgirls in Al-Iskan sector in Makkah Al-Mukarramah is of great concern. It indicated that adolescent girls in this study had experience weight and shape concerns similar to those in Western populations
Authors and Affiliations
Malak M. Allihaibi
Keywords
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- EP ID EP95510
- DOI 10.5455/ijmsph.2015.12032015191
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