Disturbed eating behaviour among high school and university students

To develop suitable preventive programs for eating disorders, it is important to examine the prevalence and severity of disturbed eating behaviour in the corresponding risk population as well as to investigate the conditions that might explain their origin and further progression. Based upon this background 736 female and male high school and university students from Eastern and Western parts of Germany were examined. Height and weight were measured objectively. In accordance with the study of Buddeberg-Fischer I I] three groups were defined depending on the total score in the Eating Attitudes Test. 28.5% of the women and 12.6% of the men revealed impaired eating behaviour with female high school students being specifically affected (35.3%). With an increasing impairment, women more often used methods to regulate their weight like diets, restrained eating, or drugs. Participants with disordered eating behaviour were also more likely to show higher scores on the subscales of the Eating Disorders Inventory and a distorted body perception.