Eating disorder symptoms among adolescents in the United States and Spain: A comparative study

Abstract

The severity of eating disorder symptoms and interest in weight reduction vary among cultures and nationalities. The present study is the first to directly compare the extent of these problems between two Western nations. Although several reports have emerged from other European countries, this is the first study of eating disorder symptoms among Spanish youth. There were more American girls with bulimia nervosa symptoms; the overall level of eating disorder symptoms was higher among the Americans; and more American girls were interested in losing weight. Bulimia was equally rare among Spanish and American boys, American boys were more interested in changing their weight, and Spanish boys had higher scores on a questionnaire of eating disorder symptoms. Although statistically different, subjects in both countries scored close to the norm on the eating disorder questionnaire.