Volume : 2, Issue : 6, June - 2013

A Study on the Prevalence And Severity of Eating Disorders among the Young Population of Hail City in Saudi Arabia

Dr. Rafia Bano, Dr. Eyad Alshammari, S. Shahida Banu

Abstract :

Context Eating disorders are severe conditions, but little is known about the prevalence or correlates of these disorders from population–based surveys of Young people. Objectives The objectives of the present study was to examine the prevalence and severity of eating disorders in a representative sample of Saudi adolescents and young adults.Design Cross–sectional survey of adolescents with face–to–face interviews using a modified version of the Eating Attitude Test (EAT–26). Setting Combined household and University adolescent and young adult samples. Participants Nationally representative sample of 100 young people aged 18 to 25 years. Results The overall prevalence estimates of eating disorder were 2% and 24% for males and females respectively. Important differences were observed between eating disorder subtypes concerning behavioral questions as well as eating attitude questions. Analyses of 2 related subthreshold conditions suggest that these conditions are often clinically significant.Conclusions Eating disorders and disordered eating attitudes are prevalent in the general adolescent an adult population , showing more prevalence in females as compared to the males. The unmet treatment needs in the adolescent population place these disorders as important public health concerns.