Prevalence of Eating Disorders and Obesity in High School Girl Students in Yazd, 2010-2011

Eating disorders are the result of behavioral disorders associated with many complications. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of these problems in high school girls in Yazd city. This cross-sectional study was commenced in 2010 and ended in 2011. The population studied were 1400 high school girl students in Yazd city who were study by cluster sampling method. Eat-26 questionnaire was used for diagnosing eating disorders and for identifying those at risk. Variables such as age, parents education, menstrual status, birth order and family size were also recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS software package and chi-square, Fisher’s exact test and pearson correlation coefficient test. For the definition of obesity and overweight BMI and CDC BMI charts were used. Of the subjects,16.7% were suffering from overweight or obesity;169 students (12%) were at the risk of eating disorders. Between BMI status and risk of eating disorders a significant relationship was detected, so that 51.7% of those at risk, were suffering from obesity or overweight. In this study, 7 students (0.5%) had anorexia nervosa and 74 students (5.3%) were diagnosed with bulimia nervosa showing no significant relationship with the variables mentioned. Totally 689 students (51.3%) were dissatisfied with their current weight out of which the 21.4% wanted to gain weight while 78.6% were willing to lose their weight. Satisfaction with weight status and BMI found to be were significantly correlated. This study, like many other similar studies, showed that the epidemiological transition, cultural interaction and changing of values has increased incidence of eating disorders and has been considerably high compared with the past decades, thus reguiring speculation and employment of effective measures in dealing with these disorders.