DClinPsy Portfolio Volume 1 of 3 - University of Hertfordshire ...

Prevalence studies across Europe, the U.S.A and Canada have concluded that there is a
high prevalence of disordered eating as defined above. Jones, et al (2001), found 23% of
12-18 year olds in their Canadian sample reported current unhealthy dieting to lose
weight. The disordered eating behaviours reported in Jones, et al’s (2001) study included
binge eating, with associated loss of control, (15%), self-induced vomiting (8.2%), diet
pill use (2.4%), laxative misuse (1.1%) and diuretics (0.6%).
In the U.K, MIND (a mental health charity) reported that one in 20 females will have
unhealthy eating habits and that most will be aged 14-25 years old. However, most
prevalence studies from the U.K reported on eating disorders that looked at clinical
populations rather than disordered eating. Disordered eating includes behaviours that
make up the eating disorders Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and Anorexia Nervosa (AN), but that
do not meet these diagnoses.
Croll, Neumark-Stainer, Story and Ireland (2002) conducted a large prevalence survey
with 40,640 adolescent females in the U.S. Fifty-six per cent of 9th-grade females
reported disordered eating behaviors, with slightly higher rates among 12th-grade
females (57%). Fasting or skipping meals were the most commonly reported behaviours,
followed by smoking cigarettes to control weight. Additional methods commonly
reported included taking diet pills, laxatives and vomiting. The figures reported for
vomiting (2% to 25%), laxative use (1.6% to 2.5%) and binge-eating (25% to 34%), vary
somewhat from other studies. It was suggested that this was likely due to the differing
time frames in questions assessing occurrence of behaviors from “during past 7 days” to
“ever”.
The prevalence studies consistently indicate that around 30-50% of adolescent girls are
weight dissatisfied or dieting, e.g. Devaud, Jeeannin, Narring, Ferron & Michaud, (1998)
in Switzerland, Sasson, Lewin & Roth, (1995) in Israel, and Perezmitre, (1997) in
Mexico.
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