Acceso usuarios
Mariusz Jaworski, Krzysztof Owczarek
Background and objectives This study analyses the level of prudence exercised by obese women and women with eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating, compared with women who do not demonstrate these disorders. It also analyses the relation between the level of prudence exercised by obese women and women with eating disorders and their weight control behaviour.
Methods The study included 175 women aged 18–35: 105 patients with eating disorders, 35 obese patients and 35 healthy individuals. All women were assessed with the ED-1 and a questionnaire by the author concerning the frequency of weight control behaviour, such as self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, slimming agents and diuretics, and increased exercising.
Results MANOVA and ANOVA statistics revealed significant differences between the patient groups and the healthy controls with respect to both weight control behaviour and prudence exercised. Significant relations were found between the frequency of self-induced vomiting and the use of laxatives, slimming agents and diuretics, and the level of prudence exercised among women with anorexia and bulimia.
Conclusions Mean prudence scores are significantly lower in women with eating disorders and obese women compared with healthy women.
