Keywords
body image
eating habits
weight control behaviors
adolescence.
How to Cite
Abstract
A comparative study was done to analyze the differences between Spanish adolescent and Latin American immigrants at the same age in various components of body image and weight control behaviors related to development of eating disorders (ED). Likewise the study analysed what variables had a major predictive value of dieting among the adolescents. The sample group was formed by 403 females from 13 to 17 years old, 191 Spanish and 212 Latin American immigrants. Certain variables were collected such as sociodemographic, body image (nutritional state, self-perception, dissatisfaction and fear about gain weight), eating habits and weight control behaviors (diet, self-induce vomiting and taking laxatives). The results showed there were not differences between the Spanish and Latin American adolescent girls in the nutritional state, in how they perceived their body image, in their desired figure, nor in the level of body dissatisfaction. However, there were differences in their self-perception of physical attractiveness, in their fear of gaining weight, in their eating habits and dieting. A significant percentage of the Latin American adolescents perceived themselves as attractive, they were more fearful of gaining weight; they had worse eating habits and dieted more.
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