Obesity, diet and restrained eating in a mediterranean population

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate links between obesity, gender and restrained eating in a representative sample of adolescents in Catalonia (Spain). DESIGN: Several surveys and measurements are applicated to a sample of adolescents from schools in the city of Barcelona. SUBJECTS: 525 subjects (57% girls and 43% boys) aged from 15-18 from 22 schools in the city of Barcelona. MEASUREMENTS: Weight, height, ideal weight, percentage of relative weight asmeasurement of obesity, subscale "Diet" of the Eating Attitudes Test as measurement of concern for dieting, and subjects' negative or affirmative responses to the question as to whether they were following a diet at the time of the study. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity in the sample ist of 17.1%. 14.3% presented mild obesity and 2.9% presented moderate obesity. Not one case of severe obesity was recorded. Dieting greatly affects normal-weight infant-juvenile populations in Spain. Girls are more concerned about dieting and are more likely to follow a diet independent of the extent to which they are overweight. Obese subjects are more likely to have higher concern for diet and to be on a diet than those of normal-weight. The restrained behaviour observed in obese subjects, is not related to the type of restraint which is evaluated using tools such as the "Diet" subscale of the EAT. CONCLUSION: We coincide in reporting a lower prevalence of obesity in Spain (an european sample) than in the United States. But the obesity's prevalence is not insignificant. It would appear that the degree of excess weight and the restraint boundary have no lineal relationship. The prevalence of restrained eating behaviour among young adolescents in Spain is high. Given the dangers of such attitudes, it is becoming increasingly necessary to develop preventive programmes to combat them