81000105

open access

Version of Record

The Usefulness of Body Image Tests in the Prevention of Eating Disorders

English (英語)

The Kobe journal of the medical sciences

53(3)

79-91

Kobe University School of Medicine

2007-06

2008-02-20

Purpose:Individual psychological factors such as mental conditions and self-esteemand family relational factors are thought to be predisposing factors in the developmentof eating disorders. In this study, we conducted a survey of 12-15 year-old public juniorhigh school students to extract factors related to abnormal eating behavior anddetermine what information could be used by schools to prevent eating disorders.Method: Self-descriptive surveys were distributed and collected during homeroom timeat school. The survey consisted of the 26-item Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) tomeasure the degree of abnormal eating behavior, Stunkard, Sorensen andSchlusinger's Body Image Scale to determine predisposing factors, the FamilyAdaptability and Cohesion Scale III (FACES III), General Health Questionnaire(GHQ), and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale. 483 students (263 boys and 220 girls)participated in the survey. School-year height and weight data was used to calculateBMI. Results: Approximately 7% of girls and 3% of boys showed clear indications ofabnormal eating behavior. We found no direct relationship between abnormal eatingbehavior and family factors in this study, but an indirect relationship was suggestedthrough other factors such as psychological complaints and self-esteem. There wererelationships between abnormal eating behavior and the individual factors ofpsychological complaints, current and ideal body image, and low self-esteem.Furthermore, cluster analysis showed that there were students with high BMI whothought of themselves as fat, as well as students who perceived themselves as fat despitehaving average BMI. These students had a high frequency of abnormal eatingbehaviors, a great deal of psychological complaints, and low self-esteem. Discussion: Anunderstanding of BMI, along with body image, is essential for students who feel thatthey are overweight. Schools can practice preventative education by teaching thesestudents about healthy body weight and by screening for the eating disorders that havebecome so rampant in our thin-worshiping culture.

adolescents

紀要論文