Eating and weight problems among women attending their general practitioner

One hundred and fifty-seven women between the ages of 16 and 40, attending their general practitioners, were given a self-report questionnaire containing standard instruments measuring weight concerns and eating attitudes and behaviours. The majority (72%) of women wanted to weigh less, 46% were dissatisfied with their body shape, 48% dieted at least sometimes with 24% usually or always dieting, and 21% wanted help with their eating or weight problems. Increasing disparity between actual weight and desired weight was associated with higher scores on the eating problem scales.