The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64277

Lea Yerby, MS¹, Amy D. Eades, MS, RD², and Stephen Nagy, PhD¹. (1) The Department of Health Science, The University of Alabama, Box 870311, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0311, 205-348-2486, yerby002@bama.ua.edu, (2) Department of Human Nutrition, University of Alabama, Box 870158, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487

Studies on bulimic behaviors among adolescents have frequently focused on clinical populations. The purpose of this study was to: 1) study the prevalence of bulimic behaviors among young adolescent females in a non-clinical sample and; 2) identify relationships between behavioral practices and emotional states that could assist in developing a risk profile of bulimic females. A cross sectional survey of 9th and 10th grade Alabama students was conducted in 2001. Four groups consisting of Caucasian Non-Purgers (N=373), Caucasian Purgers(N=58), African-American Non-purgers (N=440), and African-American Purgers (N=63) were compared on ten measures of the following type: exercise, body image, dating practices, and emotional indicators. Purgers were identified by self-response to a vomiting measure. The Caucasian Purge group exercised less (p£0.05), had a more negative body image, had fewer dating behaviors, and more negative emotional indicators. While Caucasian and African-American Purger group profiles were very similar on four measures, the African-American Purgers showed greater risk on two other measures. Overall, ethnicity was a modest factor in the bulimic profiles and low levels of exercise, poor body image, no dating relationships and negative emotional states such as high perceptions of stress, depression and hopelessness showed stronger relationships with bulimic profiles. The occurrence of bulimic behaviors is sufficiently high to warrant the development of prevention programming for both Caucasians and African-Americans in this population. Identified risk factors in this study should assist in a thorough needs assessment of this target audience.

Learning Objectives:

• • Identify behavioral and emotional risk factors of adolescents with bulimic behaviors.
  • Understand that Caucasian and African-American adolescents with bulimic behaviors share some common risk factors.

Keywords: Adolescents, Risk Factors

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.