Irish Child Health Database - Peer Reviewed Papers
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Correlates of increased risk of eating disorders in Irish school children
Published in:
Ir Med J, Vol: 100, Page: suppl 40-2
Publication Date:
September 2007
Aims & Objectives:
The aim of this study was to estimate those Irish children who are potentially at risk of developing an eating disorder from the 2002 Health Behaviour in School Aged Children
Abstract:
Currently there are no large-scale data on the prevalence of disordered eating behaviours in Irish children and adolescents. We examined the 2002 Health Behaviour in School Aged Children (HBSC) study to estimate those Irish children who are potentially at risk of developing an eating disorder. Body Mass Index (BMI) data, based on self-reported height and weight were available for 2,469 pupils (29% of all participants). This analysis showed that 32.2% of adolescents were underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg m(-2)) and 10.7% of this group 'thought they were too fat'. These latter (n-86) were identified as the 'risk' group and compared with group 2 (n = 717) who reported they were underweight and had indeed a low BMI and group 3, (n = 856) those with a normal range BMI (18.5-25Kg/m2). Those at risk were significantly more likely to choose a large silhouette, be unhappy, poorly satisfied with life and perceive themselves as not good looking, to have diet concerns, be bullied at least twice per month and feel they were average/below average in their academic work (all p < 0.001). These data indicate psycho-social associations with an important potentially pathological population sub-group of at risk children.
Authors:
Study Type:
Study Papers » Epidemiology - descriptive, incidence, prevalence and/or trends » Descriptive Studies - With a comparative dimension: time, geography, treatment, procedures
Categories:
eating disorder
International Classification:
Mental and behavioural disorders - Behavioural syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors - eating disorders -
Keywords:
- Adolescent
- Body Mass Index
- Child
- Eating Disorders/ epidemiology/psychology
- Female
- Health Behavior
- Health Surveys
- Humans
- Ireland/epidemiology
- Male
- Prevalence
- Psychological Tests
- Questionnaires
- Risk Assessment
- Risk Factors
- schools
- Students/ psychology
Geography:
Republic of Ireland (Health Behaviour in School Aged Children (HBSC))