Body dissatisfaction as a risk factor of eating disturbances

1. Marina Kelina (1,3), Nataliya Nikolaeva(1), Tatiana Meshkova (1,2) 1 – Moscow State University of Psychology and Education; 2 – Psychological Institute of Russian Academy of Education ; 3- Moscow State Linguistic University Abstract: Body dissatisfaction is important risk factor of eating disturbances (Cash T. , 2004). Researches on this topic in Russia were not carried out. 181 school girls and students (mean age=18.4) from Moscow nonclinical population were tested by Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) and Body Appreciation Scale (BAS). EAT-26 focuses on eating behavior problems (dieting, bulimic behavior, weight preoccupation). BAS reflects aspects of positive body image. The occurrence of eating behavior problems (EAT-26 scores above 20) is equal to 7.2%. Among girls from magnet school with profound study of German language there was 21.4% risk of ED. Spearman rank correlations have shown negative relationship between EAT-26 and BAS (R= –0.41, p<0.05). Body dissatisfaction is associated mostly with dieting behavior. Body dissatisfaction is the risk factor of developing ED among girls and college women, especially in the prestige schools. Introduction:: Incidence of eating disorders as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating increased in the last third of the 20th century. Many studies analyze risk factors of ED all over the world. It is widely recognized that body dissatisfaction and concern about body weight and shape are core characteristics of disturbed eating behavior. Russian population may be of particular interest because there were little or no such investigations. Methods: 181 school and college girls (mean age=18.4) took part in the study. Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) and Body Appreciation Scale (BAS) were used. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated in the standard way. Two questionnaires were used: Eating Attitude Test - EAT-26 - (Garner et al., 1982). EAT-26 consists of 26 items with 6-point Likert scale and focuses on eating behavior problems (dieting, bulimia and food preoccupation, weight preoccupation, oral control). Test consists of three subscales – bulimia and food preoccupation, dieting, and oral control. Total score at or above 20 indicates risk of developing eating disturbances. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate relationships between body image and eating behavior in a non- clinical sample of school and college girls of Moscow population. Body dissatisfaction as a risk factor of eating disturbances Results: Frequency of occurrence of EAT-26 critical scores (at or above 20) was 6.6%. Among girls (N=42) from magnet school with profound study of German language it was significantly higher - 21.4%. (Fig.1). BMI of girls was ranged between 15.0 and 30.0 (mean = 20.1). Spearman rank correlations have shown negative relationships between total scores of EAT-26 and BAS (R=-0, 43, p=0,000) and low positive relationships between BMI and total EAT-26 and negative relations between BMI and BAS scores (Table 1). The BAS scores of girls from magnet school were in average higher than those of other girls (Fig. 2). Body Appreciation Scale (BAS) 2. Body Appreciation Scale - (Avalos L., Tylka T., Wood- Barcalow N., 2005) is a 13-item scale that measures four aspects of positive body image: favorable opinions of one’s own body; acceptance of the body in spite of imperfections; respect for the body, particularly in relation to its needs and protection of the body, including rejection of unrealistic ideals. Table 1.Spearman rank correlations between EAT-26, BMI, and BAS Fig.1 Frequency of occurrence of EAT-26 critical scores (at or above 20) Conclusion: There is positive correlation between body dissatisfaction and eating disturbances (mainly it concerns the preoccupation of dieting). Despite the fact that girls from magnet school have the lower level of body dissatisfaction, than other girls have, they more often demonstrate eating disturbances (high level of dieting and other risk health behavior). We suggest that body dissatisfaction is not one risk factor of ED. We assume that girls from magnet school have specific personality traits such as achievement motivation, perfectionism etc. Present-day ideal of successful woman forces them to aspire to thinness. Many researches prove this link between perfectionism and eating disturbances. Probably girls, which have such personality traits, have unrealistic ideal body image and tend to use restricting eating behavior. The further investigations need to check these assumptions. Fig. 2. Body appreciation in different samples of school girls and students References: Avalos L., Tylka T., Wood- Barcalow N. The body Appreciation Scale: Development and psychometric evaluation. Body Image, 2005 (2), p. 285-297 Garner D., Olmsted M., Garfinkel P., Bohr Y. The Eating Attitude Test: psychometric features and clinical correlates. Psychological medicine, 1982 (12), p. 871-878 Cash T. Body Image: past, present and future. Body Image, 2004 (1), p. 1-5 Tatiana Meshkova e-mail: tmesh@mail.ru