Prevalence of self-induced vomiting and laxative/medication abuse among female adolescents: a longitudinal study.

In order to assess the prevalence and stability of weight reduction techniques utilized by adolescent females, three comprehensive samples of middle school and high school students (ages 12-18) were surveyed in the springs of 1984, 1989, and 1992. All participants were enrolled in the same school district to ensure that the groups were demographically equivalent. The results demonstrated a significant decrease in the use of appetite suppressants among high school students. However, middle school females reported a significant increase in medication use and self-induced vomiting during the same 7-year period. Laxative abuse has persisted unchanged for a small segment of both populations.