Relation of Body Mass Index to Eating Attitude in Tabrizian High School Girls

Overweight and eating disorders are among prevalent nutritional problems, especially in adolescent girls. With attention to the scarcity of data on the subject, this study was carried out to determine Body Mass Index (BMI) status and its’ relation to eating attitudes, among adolescent girls in Tabriz. In a systematic random method, 1887 high school girls, aged 14-18 years, were selected. According to the definitions of Center for Disease Control (CDC) and International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and using the body mass index percentiles, subjects were divided. Eating attitudes were assessed by using Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) questionnaire. Prevalence of underweight, normal weight, at risk of overweight, and overweight in the studied subjects was 5.6, 77.6, 12.4-16.1, and 3.6-4.4%, respectively. Body mass index was positively correlated with EAT-26 score (r=0.22, P<0.01). At risk of overweight or overweight students, had higher EAT-26 score than normal or underweight individuals (P<0.01). Abnormal BMI is prevalent among high school girls in Tabriz. BMI is an important factor for the development of abnormal eating attitudes. In adolescent girls, abnormal BMI can lead to abnormal eating attitudes.