Riesgo para trastornos de la conducta alimentaria en estudiantes secundarios y su relación con la composición por sexo del colegio

Abstract

Introduction: eating disorders (ED) are chronic mental illnesses, highly prevalent within adolescent population, affecting women more than men. Generally, ED are triggered by an unsatisfactory self body-image, which relates to several socio-cultural factors. Objective: To study the prevalence of the risk of developing ED within Chilean high school students, and to evaluate its relation with sex and the school gender composition (SGC): single-sex or coeducational. Method: A transversal-analytic study was performed using three Santiago public high schools: female-exclusive, male-exclusive and coeducational. The Eating Attitudes Test-40 was applied, considering a 30-point score to define qualitatively the risk condition. Results: The sample included 415 students, 52% women, with a mean age of 15,9 years (range 14 to 18). The global prevalence of risk for ED was 14,9%. The risk condition was significantly higher in women (25,2%) than men (4%). No differences were found when comparing the prevalence of risk according to the type of school. Discussion: The higher risk for ED among women respect to men was confirmed, and the SGC has no influence on this risk.