Nutrition knowledge in young women with eating disorders in Australia and Singapore: a pilot study

Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2009 Dec;43(12):1178-84. doi: 10.3109/00048670903279846.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare nutrition knowledge levels in young women with and without an eating disorder (ED) in two countries.

Method: Women with a clinical ED (n = 55) and healthy control women (n = 99) in Australia and Singapore completed a Nutritional Knowledge Questionnaire, acculturation questionnaire and demographics survey. Nutrition knowledge was analysed in terms of clinical status, cultural group, acculturation, socioeconomic status and education level. results: Women with EDs had greater knowledge than controls, but the magnitude of the difference was small. Greater acculturation to Western culture was associated with greater knowledge.

Conclusions: The difference in nutrition knowledge between women with and without EDs is unlikely to be of clinical importance. The findings may reflect today's ubiquitous availability of nutrition information.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acculturation
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Australia
  • Body Image
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cross-Cultural Comparison
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology*
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Pilot Projects
  • Regression Analysis
  • Singapore
  • Surveys and Questionnaires