Eating Attitudes During The Adolescent Growth Spurt in Girls

• Published in: Journal of the American Dietetic Association 1996-09, Vol.96 (9), p.A56-A56
• Main Authors: Barr, S.I., Prior, J.C., Vign, Yvette
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0002-8223; 1878-3570
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-8223(96)00498-1

LEARNING OUTCOME: To determine whether eating attitudes during the pubertal transition in girls are associated with body size or composition. Eating attitudes were assessed in pre-adolescent girls (n=29, Mean±SD age= 10.5±0.6 yr) during a 2-yr prospective study to assess whether attitudes changed during the pubertal transition, and were associated with changes in body size, composition or maturation. Height, weight, body composition (% fat by whole-body dual energy x-ray absorptiometry), and maturation (Tanner stage of breast development) were assessed at baseline, 1 and 2 years. Eating attitudes were assessed with the children's version of the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) at the same times. EAT-26 items were scored from 1 – 6 for responses of “never” through “always” (possible score range 26 –156). At baseline, girls’ mean total EAT-26 score was 52±8.8. Scores were associated with baseline % fat (r=0.36, P=0.01), body weight (r=0.35, P