Eating behavior disorders of female adolescents.

BACKGROUND Adolescence is a period of significant physical, emotional and intellectual changes, as well as changes in social roles, relations and expectations. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to inquire into eating attitudes among female adolescents. SUBJECTS AND METHOD The sample consisted of female adolescents, age of 16-17, attending first grade Economic and Medical Secondary School pupils in Banja Luka, 2007. Survey questionnaire (16 questions) is a scale for self-rating of eating disorders designed by the author. Response rate was 389 out of 419 (92.8%). RESULTS Eight point seven per cent of the female adolescents had a Body Mass Index (BMI) less than 18.5. More than half want to be thinner, while 1/3 of adolescents accepted themselves whether thin or obese. Forty-seven percent (47%) of adolescents exercise sometimes, 15.4% exercise often while 1/5 goes on a diet sometimes or regularly. About 43% adolescents are sometimes or often terrified about being overweight, while 60% sometimes or often lose weight. About 2/3 adolescents are not satisfied with their figure. One-half of the adolescents are terrified of increasing their weight. There is a statistically significant relation between female adolescents with, and female adolescents without control in eating, in both schools (p<0.05). DISCUSSION This research indicates the necessity of education of adolescents and developing prevention programs to help them to adopt healthier nutrition and lifestyle in early life. CONCLUSION There is a high level of discontent and dissatisfaction with their figure among adolescents. One-third (1/3) of adolescents accept themselves whether thin or obese, while about 43% adolescents are sometimes or often terrified about being overweight. One-half of adolescents are terrified by increase in weight.