Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T07:21:07.316Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Eating problems in Irish children and adolescence – EPICA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Fiona McNicolas ,
Barbara Dooley ,
Leonie Keogh ,
Alma Lydon ,
Ruth Lennon ,
Sinead Ahern ,
Ciaran Coyle ,
Aoife Whelan  and
Linda O Donoghue
Fiona McNicolas*
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children Crumlin, St John of God's Lucena Clinic, Rathgar andUniversity College Dublin
Barbara Dooley
Affiliation:
UCD School of Psychology, Newman Building, UCD, Dublin 4
Leonie Keogh
Affiliation:
St. John of God Hospital, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin
Alma Lydon
Affiliation:
Research Associate with the Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Box P046, 16 De Crespigny Park Road, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF
Ruth Lennon
Affiliation:
Lucena Clinic Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland
Sinead Ahern
Affiliation:
Lucena Clinic Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland
Ciaran Coyle
Affiliation:
Lucena Clinic Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland
Aoife Whelan
Affiliation:
Lucena Clinic Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland
Linda O Donoghue
Affiliation:
Lucena Clinic Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland
*
*Correspondence E-mail: fiona.mcnicholas@sjog.ie
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives: To examine eating concerns in a cohort of Irish adolescents.

Methods: Students from a stratified random sample of post primary schools were screened using the EAT-26, the EDI-III and a study specific questionnaire.

Results: A total of 3,031 students (mean age 14.74, range 12–19) enrolled in the study. The majority of respondents felt popular (91%), happy (75.2%) and perceived themselves to have a good quality of life (86.8%). Despite this, 32% of females dieted, 29.4% were dissatisfied with their bodies, and 10.8% scored above 20 on the EAT-26. Adolescents always on a diet reported a lower quality of life (QoL) X2(16, N=2,961) =144.43, p <.000, perceived themselves to be less popular X2(15, N=2,963) =53.26, p <.000 and less academically able X2(16, N=2,297) =43.96, p<.000, than those who never dieted. Comparing EPICA values to published norms, Irish males had significantly lower EAT scores, females had comparable total EAT-26 scores but significantly lower levels of dieting and higher levels of bulimic features and oral control. Girls in mixed schools had higher rates of body dissatisfaction F (1,2855) = 16.61, p <.001 and drive for thinness F (1,2860) = 11.78, p <.005 than girls attending same sex schools.

Conclusions: Weight and body image concerns were high among Irish adolescents, especially females, with higher than expected levels of bulimia and oral control scores on the EAT but lower scores on the dieting subscale. Females attending mixed sex schools appear most at risk of eating pathology.

Keywords

Eating disordersAnorexia nervosaBulimia nervosaAdolescenceIrish students
Type
Original Papers
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 27 , Issue 4 , December 2010 , pp. 172 - 178
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Sullivan, PF.Mortality in anorexia nervosa. American Journal of Psychiatry 1995; 152:1073–4.Google ScholarPubMed
2.DSM IV American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed. 1994 Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.Google Scholar
3.Patton, G.C., Selzer, R., Coffey, C, Carlin, J.B., & Wolfe, R.The onset of adolescent eating disorders: a population based cohort study over 3 years. British Medical Journal 1999; 318, 765–768.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Killen, JD, Taylor, CB, Hayward, C.Pursuit of thinness and onset of eating disorder symptoms in a community sample of adolescent girls: a three year prospective analysis. International Journal of Eating Disorders 1994; 16, 227–238.3.0.CO;2-L>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Fairburn, CG, Welch, SL, Doll, HA, Davies, BA, O'Connor, ME. Risk factors for bulimia nervosa. Archives of General Psychiatry 1997; 54, 509–517.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Garner, DM, Olmsted, MP, Bohr, Y, Garfinkel., The eating attitudes test: psychometric features and clinical correlates. Psychological Medicine 1982; 12(4): 871–878.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Garner, DM.The Eating Disorders Inventory 3. Odessa, Florida: Psychological Assessment Resources 2002.Google Scholar
8.Murrin, C, McNicholas, F, Keogh, L, Shieley, F, Corrigan, H, Nic Gabhann, C, Kelleher, C.Correlates of increased risk of eating disorder in Irish school children. Irish Medical Journal 2007; 100 840–43.Google ScholarPubMed
9.Sancho, C, Arija, M., Asorey, O. & Canals, J (2007) Epidemiology of eating disorders-A two year follow up in an early adolescent school population. European Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 16, 495–504.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Morande, G., Celanda, J. & Caswas, J. (1999) Prevalence of eating disorders in a Spanish school-age population. Journal of Adolescent Health, 24, 212–219.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. The Commonwealth Fund - Survey of the health of adolescent girls (1997) http://www.cmwf.orgGoogle Scholar
12.Halvarsson, K, Luinner, K, Westerberg, J, Anteson, F, Sjoden, P.A longitudinal study of the development of dieting among 7–17 year old Swedish girls. International Journal of Eating Disorders 2002; 31: 32–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.McVey, G., Tweed, S. & Balckmore, E. (2004) Dieting among preadolescent and young adolescent females. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 1770 (10), 1559–1561.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14.Field, A., Berkey, A., Rockett, H., Gillman, R. & Colidtz, A. (2003) Longitudinal study of skipping breakfast and weight change in adolescents. International Journal of Obesity. 27, 1258–1266.Google Scholar
15.Currie, C, Samdal, O, Boyce, W, Smith, B. (Eds) Health behaviour in school aged children: a World Health Organisation cross national study; Research protocol for the 2001/2002 Study. Edinburgh: Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit, University of Edinburgh.Google Scholar
16.McLaughlin, J. (2004). Eating disorders: exploration of disordered eating and related behaviours among adolescents and comparison to females with Anorexia Nervosa. Unpublished doctoral thesis. Ireland: University College Dublin.Google Scholar
17.Ryan, Y.M., Gibney, M.J. & Flynn, M.A.T. (1998) The pursuit of thinness. International Journal of Obesity, 22(5), 485–487.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18. National Taskforce on Obesity (2005). Obesity the Policy Challenges- the report of the National Taskforce on Obesity. Health Promotion Unit and Department of Health and Children. Retrieved on 5th October 2005 from http://www.dohc.ie/publications/pdf/report_taskforce_on_obesity.pdf?direct=1Google Scholar
19.Geist, R., Davis, R., & Heinman, M. (1998). Binge-purge symptoms and comorbidity in adolescents with eating disorders. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 43, 507–512.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20.Sobal, J & Stunkard, A.J. (1989). Socioeconomic status and obesity: a review of the literature. Psychological Bulletin 105.Google Scholar
21.Menton, A. (2009) Obesity – The Hidden Problem An investigation of eating behaviours, related psycho pathology and the obesogenic environment among 12–25 year olds.Google Scholar
22.Leon, GR., Keel, P.K., Klump, K.L., & Fulkerson, J.A. (1997). The future of risk factor research in understanding the etiology of eating disorders. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 33, 405–411.Google ScholarPubMed
23.Fairburn, CG., Cooper, Z., Doll, H.A., and Welch, S.L (1999). Risk factors for anorexia nervosa. Archives of General Psychiatry, 56, 468–476.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24.Thomsen, SR, McCoy, JK, Gustafson, R, Williams, HM. (2002) Media Psychology, Lawrence Earlbaum.Google Scholar
25.Wetrtheim, E.H.Paxton, S.J.Schutz, H.K. & Muir, S.L (1997) Why do adolescent girls watch their weight? An interview study examining socio-cultural pressures to be thin. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 1997; 42(4): 345–355.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
26.Lieberman, M, Gauvin, L, Bukowski, WM & White, DR.(2001) Interpersonal influence and disordered eating behaviours in adolescent girls: the role of peer modelling, social reinforcement, and body-related teasing. Eating Behaviour 2(3), 215–36CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
27.Button, EJ, Sonuga-Barke, EJ, Davies, J, Thompson, M.A prospective study of self-esteem in the prediction of eating problems in adolescent schoolgirls: questionnaire findings. British Journal of Clinical Psychology 1996; 35: 193–203.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28.Evans, L, Wertheim, EH.Intimacy patterns and relationship satisfaction of women with eating problems and the mediating effects of depression, trait anxiety and social anxiety. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 1998; 44, 355–365.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
29.Hoek, HW, Bartelds, AI, Bosveld, JJ, van der Graaf, Y, Limpens, VE, Maiwald, M, Spaafj, CJ, (1995) Impact of urbanisation on detection rates of eating disorders. [Am J Psychiatry, Vol. 152 (9), pp. 1272–.Google Scholar
30.Joens-Matre, RR, Welk, GJ, Calabro, MA, Russell, DW, Nicklay, E, Hensley, LD (2008) Rural urban differences in physical activity, physical fitness and overweight prevalence of children. J Rural Health Vol. 24 (1), pp. 49–54.Google ScholarPubMed
31.Davy, BM, Harrell, K, Stewart, J, King, D.Body weight status, dietary habits and physical activity levels of middle school aged children in rural. South Med J 2004; Vol. 97 (6), pp. 571–577.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
32.Patterson, PD, Moore, CG, Probst, JC, Shinogle, JA (2004) Obesity and physical inactivity in rural America. J Rural Health, Vol. 20(2), pp. 151–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
33.Crandall, CS.Social contagion of binge eating. J Pers Soc Psychol 1988; 55: 588–598.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
34.Forman-Hoffman, VL., Cunningham, CL. (2008) Geographical Clustering of Eating Disordered behaviours in US high school students. International Journal of Eating Disorders; Vol. 41 Issue 3, p209–214.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
35.Gilbert, N; Meyer, C (2004) Similarity in young women's eating attitudes: self selected versus artificially constructed groups. International Journal of Eating Disorders; 36 (2): 213–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
36.Paxton, SJ, Schutz, HK, Wertheim, EH, Muir, S (1999) Friendship clique and peer influences on body image concerns, dietary restraint, extreme weight loss behaviours and binge eating in adolescent girls. J Abnorm Psychol 1999; 108 (2): 255–266.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
37.http://www.cso.ie/statistics/sec_level_pupils_schooltype.htm retrieved 2nd 09 2007.Google Scholar
38.Brener, ND, Mcmanus, T, Galuska, DAet al. Reliability and validity of self-reported height and weight among high school students. Journal of Adolescent Health 1998; 32. 281–287.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
39.Goodman, E, Hinden, B.R & Khandelwal, S. (1999) Accuracy of teen and parental reports of obesity and body mass index. Pediatrics. 106, 52–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar