Eating disorder symptomatology: Comparative study between Mexican and Canadian university women / Sintomatología de trastornos alimentarios: Estudio comparativo entre mujeres universitarias mexicanas y canadienses

ABSTRACT

Abstract The objectives of this study were (1) to compare Mexican and Canadian university students regarding disordered eating behaviors (DEB), body thin-ideal internalization (BTHIN), and body image dissatisfaction (BID); and (2) to examine the relationship of these three variables to body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). This cross-cultural study was carried out in a sample of 129 university women students aged from 18 to 25 years (M = 20.18, SD =1.59) 52% were Canadian (Moncton University [MU]) and 48% were Mexican (Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo [UAEH]). The Brief Questionnaire for Disordered Eating Behaviors and Attitudes Towards Body Figure Questionnaire were applied while the BID was evaluated using a continuum of nine silhouettes. In addition, the weight, height and WC of each participant were recorded. Mexican students had greater values of overweight, obesity, abdominal obesity and DEB, with 4.6 times greater risk than UM students. In contrast, the presence of BTHIN and BID was similar between samples. Considering these findings, women from at least two different ethnic groups are vulnerable to the development of eating disorder symptomatology.

RESUMEN

Resumen Los objetivos de este estudio fueron 1) comparar entre estudiantes universitarias mexicanas vs. canadienses respecto a conductas alimentarias de riesgo (CAR), interiorización de la figura corporal delgada (IFCD) e insatisfacción con la imagen corporal (ISC); y 2) examinar la relación de esas tres variables con el índice de masa corporal (IMC) y la circunferencia de cintura (CC). En este estudio transcultural participaron 129estudiantes universitarias de 18 a 25 años de edad (M = 20.18, DE =1.59) 52% canadienses (Universidad de Moncton [UM]) y 48% mexicanas (Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo [UAEH]). Fueron aplicados el Cuestionario Breve para medir Conductas Alimentarias de Riesgo y el Attitudes Towards Body Figure Questionnaire, mientras que la ISC se evaluó mediante un continuo de nueve siluetas. Además se registró el peso, la talla y la CC de cada participante. Las estudiantes mexicanas registraron significativamente mayor presencia de sobrepeso, obesidad, obesidad abdominal y CAR, con 4.6 veces mayor riesgo que las estudiantes de la UM. Por el contrario, la presencia de IFCD y de ISC fue similar entre las muestras. Con base en estos hallazgos se puede concluir que las mujeres de dos grupos étnicos diferentes son vulnerables al desarrollo de sintomatología de trastornos alimentarios.