Objective:
To investigate the status of eating disorders among overweight and obese adolescents as well as provide the basis for developing obesity precautionary and eating disorders.
Methods:
910 adolescents of grade 4 to 6 in primary schools and grade 1 to 3 in junior middle schools were recruited in Bengbu by cluster random sampling to examine the association between obesity and eating disorders.
Results:
A total of 203 children (22.3%) were overweight and obese, 547 children (60.1%) were normal weight and 160 children (17.6%) were low weight. The prevalence of overweight and obese in boys were significantly higher than those in girls (30.6% vs. 13.0%; χ2=40.55, P<0.01). Compared with normal weight group and low weight group, the scores of drive for thinness (DT), body dissatisfaction (BD), low self-esteem (LSE) and eating disorder risk composite (EDRC) were significantly higher in overweight and obese group (P<0.05). There was a positive association between the scores of DT(r=0.19), BD(r=0.30), LSE(r=0.09), interceptive deficits (ID) (r=0.08) and EDRC (rs=0.11) with body mass index (BMI)(P<0.05).
Conclusion
Eating disorders were associated with overweight and obesity of adolescents. A targeted strategies and measures should be conducted.