Abstract

TAO, Zhuoli  and  ZHONG, Wenfang. Eating attitudes and weight concern among Chinese middle-age women: A comparison between different age and BMI groups. Eur. J. Psychiat. [online]. 2010, vol.24, n.3, pp.146-157. ISSN 0213-6163.

Background and Objectives: Few studies have been conducted to explore eating behavior and weight concern among middle-aged women. Methods: Participants were a sample of 236 Chinese women aged 30-52. Outcome measures were various symptoms related to eating disorders, the weight concern and psychological characteristics subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 questionnaire (EDI-2). Independent variables were age, education level and BMI. ANOVA-Test and Linear Regression were performed. Results: A group of women (N = 132, 78%) with normal weight (19 < BMI < 24) showed dissatisfaction with their weight and wanted to reduce it. Overweight and obese women scored significantly higher on the subscale Body Dissatisfaction on the EDI-2 than women with lower BMI. In comparison to the older group (50-59), the younger group (30-39) and middle-aged group (40-49) expressed the desire to lose weight with a lower BMI. Conclusions: In comparison to age, the BMI had a stronger impact on the psychological and behavioral traits related to the eating disorders among a group of middle-aged Chinese women.

Keywords : China; Women; Eating disorders; EDI-2.

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