Volume 26, Issue 3
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2017.1025
Attitudes Toward Overweight and their Association with Risk of Eating Disorder in Children. An Exploratory Study
Abstract
The aim of this study is to explore attitudes toward overweight and analyze its association with risk of eating disorder in children. The sample included 94 school children. The average age was 10.72 years. During the first stage, children filled out self-administered instruments. During the second stage, a diagnostic interview was conducted with those children identified at risk for eating disorder. The majority of children showed a negative attitude toward overweight, without differences by sex or body mass index. Moreover, a significant but weak correlation between attitudes toward overweight and risk of eating disorder was identified. In conclusion, it is suggested that programs aimed to prevent eating disorders should work on this subject.
Keywords
Eating disorders - attitudes - overweight - children