Ernährungsverhalten und Essstörungsgefahr bei den chinesischen Jugendlichen

Abstract

Background:There are raising reports in China about psychological and psychosomatic disorders among youth with China's economic development, for example eating disorders. Studies in the West have shown that minority groups can be at high risk for eating disorders. Furthermore, family factor, teasing was established in West to evaluate the risk of eating disorders. To our knowledge there is so far no report about risk of eating disorders among minority groups in China, also there are rare studies utilizing risk factors such as family and teasing. Han ancestry (the majority of Chinese, over 90% of China's 1.3 billion population are ethnically Han Chinese). Uiguren ancestry (a Muslim minority of 8 million people living in Xinjiang Province in West China).Targets of the survey:This survey aimed to investigate the relationship between eating behaviour and risk for development of eating disorders among Chinese students, particular focus was placed on Uiguren students, who may be most vulnerable to eating disorders.Following questions should be answered:1. Is there difference between Uiguren and Han participants in terms of key features of eating disorders?2. Which factors play roles in the development of eating disorders among Chinese participants?Methods:The data for this survey were collected from February to April 2006 using a cohort of 1,252 Chinese secondary school and college students aged 12 to 25 years (M= 18.99, SD= 2.92) in two cities - Nanjing (5 million inhabitants, residents are almost all Han) and Urumqi (3 million inhabitants. Residents are mixed, most are Uiguren, Han and Kasachen). The questionnaire EAT-26 and EDI was used to assess eating attitudes and personality characteristics related to eating disorders. Questions in the questionnaire include, family environment, influence factors such as weight-related teasing in the family, school, important source of information on their ideas about figure, diet and weight. Weight control was also used.Results:1. Uiguren participants, especially females showed significantly higher weight concerns, personality characteristics (perfectionism) and significantly lower self-esteem than Han participants.2. The high-risk group of eating disorders (EAT¡Ý20) had more conflict family than other EAT groups.3. Peer and media are important resources of information about their ideas about figure, diet, weight among Chinese participants.4. Gender difference of understanding of a thin figure among Chinese participants exists.5. Female and male over-weights showed significantly higher body dissatisfaction than other BMI groups.Discussion:1. The changed nutrition and environment has stronger impact to the Uiguren than Han, which makes the second generation of Uiguren with stronger weight concerns than Han.2. Of one side is the high prevalence of over-weights among Uiguren adults, of another side is the dominant thin-emphasized Han culture. The weight concern among Uiguren paticipants might reflect the conflict between the two sides.