Prevalence of pathogenic weight-control behaviors among native American women and girls

Abstract

Results of a survey administered to 85 Native American girls and women, aged 12–55, revealed that 74% were trying to lose weight and that 75% of those who were dieting to lose weight were employing potentially hazardous techniques. The results also showed that 24% of the dieters used one or more purging behaviors. The mean age of those using pathogenic weight-control methods was 28.8 years. Subjects with higher body mass indexes were more likely to use dangerous weightcontrol methods. These findings suggest that Native American women should be included among the groups at risk for eating disorders and that older and heavier women in this population also should receive attention.