Etiological model of disordered eating behaviors in Brazilian adolescent girls

• Published in: Cadernos de saúde pública 2016, Vol.32 (4), p.e000024115-e000024115
• Main Authors: Fortes, Leonardo de Sousa, Filgueiras, Juliana Fernandes, Oliveira, Fernanda da Costa, Almeida, Sebastião Sousa, Ferreira, Maria Elisa Caputo
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; por
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Body Image; Body Mass Index; Brazil; Child; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Feeding and Eating Disorders - classification; Feeding and Eating Disorders - etiology; Feeding and Eating Disorders - psychology; Feeding Behavior; Female; Humans; Perfectionism; Prospective Studies; Risk-Taking
• ISSN: 1678-4464
• DOI: 10.1590/0102-311X00024115

The objective was to construct an etiological model of disordered eating behaviors in Brazilian adolescent girls. A total of 1,358 adolescent girls from four cities participated. The study used psychometric scales to assess disordered eating behaviors, body dissatisfaction, media pressure, self-esteem, mood, depressive symptoms, and perfectionism. Weight, height, and skinfolds were measured to calculate body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat (%F). Structural equation modeling explained 76% of variance in disordered eating behaviors (F(9, 1,351) = 74.50; p = 0.001). The findings indicate that body dissatisfaction mediated the relationship between media pressures, self-esteem, mood, BMI, %F, and disordered eating behaviors (F(9, 1,351) = 59.89; p = 0.001). Although depressive symptoms were not related to body dissatisfaction, the model indicated a direct relationship with disordered eating behaviors (F(2, 1,356) = 23.98; p = 0.001). In conclusion, only perfectionism failed to fit the etiological model of disordered eating behaviors in Brazilian adolescent girls.