Children's Eating Attitudes Test Research Articles

Psychological correlates of dieting in Swedish adolescents: a cross‐sectional study

Psychological factors associated with self-reported dieting behaviour and disordered eating were studied in 10–16-year-old Swedish students. A total of 458 girls and boys were eligible and 401 students completed the data collection. The study employed the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT), the Eating Disorders Inventory for Children (EDI-C), a questionnaire for the estimation of body size and a demographic and dieting questionnaire including a question about teasing. Dieters of both sexes scored significantly higher than non-dieters on six of the EDI-C subscales indicting more feelings of body dissatisfaction and ineffectiveness, a lesser awareness of interoceptive signals, less impulse regulation and more social insecurity. Dieters also reported that they had been teased because of their appearance more often than did the non-dieters. The results suggest that such psychological factors may precede the development of clinical eating disorders. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Psychological correlates of dieting in Swedish adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Psychological factors associated with self-reported dieting behaviour and disordered eating were studied in 10–16-year-old Swedish students. A total of 458 girls and boys were eligible and 401 students completed the data collection. The study employed the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT), the Eating Disorders Inventory for Children (EDI-C), a questionnaire for the estimation of body size and a demographic and dieting questionnaire including a question about teasing. Dieters of both sexes scored significantly higher than non-dieters on six of the EDI-C subscales indicting more feelings of body dissatisfaction and ineffectiveness, a lesser awareness of interoceptive signals, less impulse regulation and more social insecurity. Dieters also reported that they had been teased because of their appearance more often than did the non-dieters. The results suggest that such psychological factors may precede the development of clinical eating disorders. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Psychometric properties of the dutch eating behaviour questionnaire (DEBQ) among 9–10-year-old Swedish girls

This study was designed to examine the psychometric properties of the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ) (van Strien et al., 1986) in a sample of 9–10-year-old Swedish girls (N=117). The Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT) was used for validation. There were significant differences between ‘Dieters’ and ‘Non-Dieters’ for DEBQ and ChEAT totals, for the DEBQ ‘Restrained Eating’ scale, and for the ChEAT ‘Dieting’ and ‘Bulimia’ scales, indicating that both instruments possess adequate construct validity for this group. The DEBQ total correlated (0·45) with the ChEAT total, and the DEBQ ‘Restrained Eating’ (0·75) with the ChEAT ‘Dieting’. ‘Emotional Eating’ (DEBQ) did not correlate with the ChEAT total or ‘Dieting’ but there were significant correlations with ‘Oral Control’ and ‘Bulimia’. DEBQ ‘External Eating’ showed a corresponding relationship only with ‘Oral Control’. Factorial analysis demonstrated that all DEBQ items except one for the ‘Restrained Eating’ and ‘External Eating’ subscales, and two items of the ‘Emotional Eating’ scale loaded on three separate factors, suggesting factorial integrity. Computation of internal consistency showed an alpha coefficient of 0·83 for DEBQ total, and subscale alpha values ranging from 0·77 to 0·86. This pattern of results indicates adequate psychometric properties among 9–10-year-old girls. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Structural modeling analysis of body dysphoria and eating disorder symptoms in preadolescent girls

Researchers have identified eating disorders among prepubertal children, and attention is being focused on children who may be at risk for developing an eating disorder. In this investigation, a total of 148 girls ages 8 to 13 in grades 3 through 7 completed the Children's Eating Attitudes Test, Children's Depression Inventory, Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, the physical appearance and attributes items, and a measure of social pressure for thinness. The Body Image Assessment procedures for children (BIA-C) and preadolescents (BIA-P) were also administered The LISREL VII program was used to test a structural model of the development of eating disorder symptoms in preadolescent girls. The results of this study supported the prediction that body dysphoria, social pressure for thinness, low self-esteem, and depression are significant risk factors for eating disorder symptoms in preadolescent girls.

Development of a body image assessment procedure for children and preadolescents.

Researchers have identified eating disorders among prepubertal children; therefore, there is a need for the development of reliable and valid measures of body image in children. In this investigation, a sample of 257 children ages 8 to 13 in Grades 3 through 7 were administered the Body Image Assessment Procedure for Children's (BIA-C) or the Body Image Assessment Procedure for Preadolescents (BIA-P) and the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT). Support for the reliability and validity of the BIA-C and BIA-P was found. The study also found that separate norms were needed for the male and female BIA-C and BIA-P procedures. Examination of dieting behaviors and eating attitudes of these subjects highlights the fact that children at very young ages have acquired a clear preference for a thin body size; thus, there is a need for continued development of assessment measures for this population.

Eating Attitudes among Japanese and American Elementary Schoolgirls

This study examined familial and peer correlates of eating attitudes in American and Japanese preadolescent girls. Using the Japanese translation of the Children's Eating Attitudes Test and the Demographic and Dieting Questionnaire, Japanese girls were compared to American girls. Correlates of eating attitudes shared by American and Japanese girls were self-perception of being overweight, the number of friends on a diet, and the frequency of talking with the mother about food and diet. The Japanese girls were influenced more greatly by familial eating attitudes and practices than were American girls. Implications for future cross-cultural research are discussed.

Eating Behaviours, and Attitudes to Eating, Dieting, and Body Image in 7-year-old Swedish Girls

Eating behaviours and attitudes to eating, dieting and body image were studied in 7-year-old Swedish girls. Sixty-four girls were eligible and 50 participated in individual interviews based on the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ) modified for children, the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT), and a demographic and dieting questionnaire. Subjects also completed a questionnaire estimating their body size. A total of 28 per cent wanted to be thinner, 22 per cent reported that they had tried to lose weight and 20 per cent admitted that they ate less with the purpose of losing weight. The girls who stated that they had tried to lose weight showed significantly higher ChEAT and DEBQ scores and estimated themselves to be significantly larger than those who had not. The results indicate that one-quarter of 7-year-old girls have concerns regarding their body weight and that they make attempts to lose weight.

Body weight, dieting, and eating disorder symptoms among college students, 1982 to 1992.

The authors sought to examine changes in prevalence of dieting behavior and eating disorder symptoms from 1982 to 1992. In 1982, 625 women and 276 men participated in a study examining body weight, eating habits, dieting tendencies, and eating disorder symptoms. Ten years later 564 women and 235 men at the same college completed a nearly identical survey. Similar random sampling methods were used for both studies. All respondents were classified into one of five groups (nondieter, dieter, problem dieter, subclinical eating disorder, or eating disorder according to DSM-III-R criteria). On almost all measures there were significant reductions of problematic eating behaviors and disordered attitudes about body, weight, and shape from 1982 to 1992. The estimated prevalence of bulimia nervosa dropped from 7.2% to 5.1% for women and from 1.1% to 0.4% for men. Binge eating, vomiting, diuretic use, and diet pill use also declined for women during this period. Significantly fewer women and men reported chronic dieting in 1992 than in 1982, and there was evidence of improved body image for both sexes. Subjects in 1992 also reported healthier eating habits in terms of dietary intake and meal regularity. Finally, women in 1992 were more likely to be overweight and were, on average, five pounds heavier than their 1982 counterparts. The prevalence of problematic eating behaviors and eating disorder symptoms appears to be abating. However, they remain a significant problem that affects a substantial segment of this population.

Weight Perceptions in Children: The Roots of Dieting

Disturbed body image perceptions and eating attitudes have been well documented in adults and adolescents. Few studies have examined young children for disordered eating attitudes and body images.Six hundred and twenty-eight fifth and sixth graders from five schools in Northeastern Pennsylvania completed a Body Figure Preference Questionnaire, the children's Eating Attitude Test (chEat) and a dieting questionnaire. Heights, weights and body mass index were obtained on each student.Results showed, 58% of all students, 73% of girls and 43% of boys, wanted to be thinner; 58% of all students had already attempted weight loss and 11% scored within the disordered eating attitude range on the chEat. Thirty-five percent of the children were overweight/obese.In comparison to boys, girls were shown to score significantly higher on the chEat and preferred a significantly smaller desired body figure than their current body figure (p<.0001). Over 33% of girls, compared to only 13% of boys, described themselves as “too fat”. One-quarter of the children had been encouraged by their parents to lose weight, and eight percent reported active dieting.The findings indicate that abnormal eating attitudes are present by grade five. Many young girls were shown to have disturbed and unrealistic body image perceptions. The data demonstrated the necessity for increased educational instructions at school, at home and in the media, on nutrition, body image and self-esteem.Finally, physicians, teachers and parents must accept the occurrence of eating disorders in children, and devote time and effort into successful identification and interventions.

Psychometric properties of the children's eating attitudes test

As interest in eating disorders has grown, there has been an increased need for psychometrically sound measures of young children's eating attitudes and behaviors. The present report examines one promising measure, the children's version of the Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT; (Maloney, McGuire, & Daniels. [1988]. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 5, 541-543; Maloney, McGuire, Daniels & Specker. [1989]. Pediatrics, 84, 482-489). Like the EAT-26, (Garfinkel & Garner. [1982]. Anorexia nervosa: A multidimensional perspective. New York: Brunner/Mazel), this is a 26-item self-report questionnaire. As part of a larger study, the ChEAT was administered to 308 middle school girls. Analyses indicated that the 26-item version had adequate internal reliability, both for the entire sample and for each of the three grades. However, a 23-item version had even better internal reliability. Concurrent validity was demonstrated for the 26-item version in that correlations between the ChEAT and independent measures of weight management and body dissatisfaction were significant. Again, the concurrent validity was slightly better for the 23-item version. Factor analysis of the ChEAT-26 yielded factors quite similar to those of the EAT-26. However, an additional ChEAT factor emerged that tapped restricting and purging behaviors. On the whole, the ChEAT emerged as a promising instrument for measuring disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors in middle school girls.

Dieting Behavior and Eating Attitudes in Children

Many studies document the high prevalence of dieting and abnormal eating behaviors in adolescents and young adults. The age of onset of eating disorders remains unclear because there are no published surveys of voluntary dieting and eating attitudes in young children. A total of 318 girls and boys were surveyed from two randomly chosen schools in middle-income neighborhoods. The children were equally distributed among grades 3 through 6. The survey included a children's version of the Eating Attitudes Test and a demographic and dieting questionnaire. Results showed that 45% of the children wanted to be thinner, 37% had already tried to lose weight, and 6.9% scored in the anorexia nervosa range, closely matching the published results concerning teenagers and young adult women. Several questions were isolated by univariate and multiple regression analyses that accurately (P less than .05) predicted children's Eating Attitude Test scores. The fact that young children admit having diet preoccupation and atypical eating attitudes is shown in this study. It may be possible to improve early case identification of children at risk for anorexia nervosa and perhaps improve intervention strategies by focusing on the early development of dieting behavior in young children.