Search

This paper reports the results of a questionnaire constructed to identify the prevalence of bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating and other manifestations of concern with body and shape and habits of consumption of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs among female university students in Lisbon. It was sent out to 1542 subjects and responses from 50.1 per cent were obtained. Among those students who responded, 55.1 per cent desired to lose weight, 25 per cent reported weight fluctuations in the previous year, 12 per cent were dieting at that moment and 48.8 per cent had been on a diet before. The prevalence of BN was 3 per cent and 13.2 per cent of subjects reported at least two binge eating episodes per week (binge-eaters). Bulimics and binge-eaters were heavier, wanted to lose more weight, had used diets before more frequently, and reported ponderal oscillations more frequently than controls. They also reported more frequent consumption of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs than controls, but this is not statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]