Kassandra Gratwick-Sarll1, Caroline Bentley1, Carmel Harrison1, Jonathan Mond1,2. 1. Research School of Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 2. Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract
AIM: Bulimic-type eating disorders are common among young women and associated with high levels of distress and disability and low uptake of mental health care. We examined self-recognition of disordered eating and factors associated with this among female adolescents with bulimic-type eating disorders (n = 139) recruited from a large, population-based sample. METHODS: A vignette of a fictional character with bulimia nervosa was presented, followed by a series of questions addressing the nature and treatment of the problem described. One of these questions required participants to indicate whether they currently had a problem such as the one described. Self-report measures of eating disorder symptoms, general psychological distress and quality of life were also completed. RESULTS: More than half of participants (58%) did not believe that they currently had a problem with their eating. In multivariable analysis, impairment in emotional well-being and self-induced vomiting were the only variables independently associated with self-recognition. Participants who recognized a problem with their eating were more likely to have sought treatment for an eating problem than those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: Recognition of disordered eating among adolescents with bulimic-type eating disorders may be poor and this may be a factor in low uptake of mental health care. Health promotion efforts may need to address the misconception that only bulimic-type disorders involving self-induced vomiting are pathological.
AIM: Bulimic-type eating disorders are common among young women and associated with high levels of distress and disability and low uptake of mental health care. We examined self-recognition of disordered eating and factors associated with this among female adolescents with bulimic-type eating disorders (n = 139) recruited from a large, population-based sample. METHODS: A vignette of a fictional character with bulimia nervosa was presented, followed by a series of questions addressing the nature and treatment of the problem described. One of these questions required participants to indicate whether they currently had a problem such as the one described. Self-report measures of eating disorder symptoms, general psychological distress and quality of life were also completed. RESULTS: More than half of participants (58%) did not believe that they currently had a problem with their eating. In multivariable analysis, impairment in emotional well-being and self-induced vomiting were the only variables independently associated with self-recognition. Participants who recognized a problem with their eating were more likely to have sought treatment for an eating problem than those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: Recognition of disordered eating among adolescents with bulimic-type eating disorders may be poor and this may be a factor in low uptake of mental health care. Health promotion efforts may need to address the misconception that only bulimic-type disorders involving self-induced vomiting are pathological.
Authors: Johannes Feldhege; Sally Bilic; Kathina Ali; Daniel B Fassnacht; Markus Moessner; Louise M Farrer; Kathleen M Griffiths; Stephanie Bauer Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-06-03 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Shameran Slewa-Younan; Anisa Yaser; Maria Gabriela Uribe Guajardo; Haider Mannan; Caroline A Smith; Jonathan M Mond Journal: Int J Ment Health Syst Date: 2017-08-24