Disordered eating in Jordanian adolescents

Area of Science:

• Adolescent health
• Eating disorders
• Public health

Background:

• Disordered eating attitudes and behaviors are prevalent among adolescents.
• These conditions are associated with significant physical and psychological health consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate individual, psychological, and socio-cultural factors contributing to disordered eating attitudes in Jordanian adolescents.
• To identify key risk factors for disordered eating in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 963 adolescents (aged 15-18) from three Jordanian governorates.
• Utilized the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ).
• Assessed Body Mass Index (BMI) and socio-demographic variables, including parental, peer, and media influences.

Main Results:

• Prevalence of disordered eating (EAT score ≥20) was 40.4%, and body shape dissatisfaction (BSQ score ≥110) was 16.8%.
• Overweight and obesity affected 34.5% of participants.
• Significant associations with disordered eating included female sex, urban residence, distorted weight perception, excess BMI, body dissatisfaction, and socio-cultural factors (parents, peers, mass media).

Conclusions:

• Jordanian urban adolescents may adopt Western cultural norms, influencing disordered eating behaviors.
• Socio-cultural factors, especially mass media, significantly shape adolescent norms and attitudes towards eating and body image.
• Urgent need for prevention and intervention programs to mitigate disordered eating among adolescents in Jordan.