Eating‐Disordered Symptoms in a Nonclinical Population: A Study of Female Adolescents in Two Private Schools

Abstract

Reports of eating-disordered symptoms in high risk populations suggest an increasing incidence of both anorexia nervosa and bulimia. To investigate the magnitude of this problem in a “high risk” but nonclinical population, we surveyed upper-middle-class female adolescents from two private girls' schools (one boarding, one day). Of the boarding school population, 18.1% reported at least one symptom of an eating disorder, while the figure for the day school population was 18.6%. Although clinical interviews are a prerequisite to a DSM-III diagnosis of Eating Disorder, this study indicates that many of the students are likely to have a diagnosable clinical syndrome. Discussion includes the early onset of symptoms (prepuberty) suggesting the need for educational, preventative programs.