Risk factors for eating disorders: surprising similarities between middle school boys and girls.

Overview

This study examined body dissatisfaction (BD), drive for thinness (DT), and self-esteem in middle school students. Participants were 40 girls and 36 boys aged 11-13. Students completed BD and DT Eating Disorder Inventory subscales and the Rosenberg self-esteem questionnaire. There were no significant differences on these measures. For boys and girls, self-esteem was negatively correlated with BD, and Body Mass Index (BMI) was positively correlated with BD. For boys, BMI was positively correlated with DT. DT was negatively correlated with self-esteem in girls. The relationship between body dissatisfaction and self-esteem is cause for concern and may be a higher risk for developing eating disorders.