Dieting among arab girls

Abstract EN

Objective : To estimate the prevalence and severity of dieting and associated psychosocial correlates in teenage girls in the UAE.

Methods : Self-reports were obtained from 540 teenage girls using the Adolescent Dieting Scale (ADS), and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ – 20) for psychopathology.

Results : About 16% were overweight, about 9% were extreme dieters and 38% were intermediate dieters.

The level of dieting showed a strong association with body mass index (BMI) and SRQ-20 scores > Dieting was more likely in girls who were perceived by peers or perceived themselves as overweight, those who had dieting friends, dieting family members or who had obesity in the family.

Conclusion : Dieting is as common among Arab girls as it is in Western societies and is influenced by similar factors.

Some aspects of dieting among Arab girls are close to formal eating disorders.