Abstract
Background and Objectives: Eating disorders are diseases which are prevalent in adolescent girls. This study was carried out to determine prevalence of high school girls which are at risk for eating disorders, and their relation to demographic parameters, in Tabriz.
Materials and Methods: 1887 high school girls were selected by simple random method. Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) was used. After determination of its validity and reliability, prevalence of at risk students for eating disorder and their relation to demographic parameters were assessed.
Results: The questionnaire had good validity and reliability (0.76, 0.8, respectively). Mean and standard deviation of EAT-26 score was: 11.71±8.48. 16.7% (C.I with 95%: 15.1-18.3%) of students were at risk for eating disorders. There was not any significant deference in prevalence of eating disorders in different age groups. EAT-26 score and eating disorder prevalence were higher in students, who considered themselves as obese, inclined to weight loss, were smoker, and who had menarche at below than 11 years (P 0.05).
Conclusion: Our results are less than studies in Tehran, Arabian countries, and some European ones. Our results show that eating disorders can be seen in our community. Body weight attitude, age of menarche and smoking have role in increasing of eating disorders incidence.