Fashion models are thought to be at risk of having eating disorders, but so far few studies have explored this supposed higher 11 risk with a sound method. We have investigated the prevalence of eating disorders in a group of 55 fashion models born in Sardinia, 12 Italy, comparing them to a group of 110 girls of the same age and of comparable social and cultural background. The study was 13 based on questionnaires and face-to-face interviews, to reduce the bias due to symptom under-reporting and to social desirability 14 responding. When compared on three well-validated self-reported questionnaires (EAT, BITE, BAT), the models and controls did 15 not differ significantly. However, in a detailed interview (EDE), models reported significantly more eating-disorder symptoms than 16 controls, and a higher prevalence of partial syndromes of eating disorders was found in models than in controls. A body mass index 17 (BMI) below 18 was found for 34 models (54.5%) as compared with 14 controls (12.7%). Three models (5%) and no controls 18 reported an earlier clinical diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. Further studies will be necessary to establish whether the slight excess of 19 partial syndromes of eating disorders among fashion models was a consequence of the requirement in the profession to maintain a 20 slim figure or if the fashion modeling profession is preferably chosen by girls already oriented towards eating-disorder 21 symptomatology, since the pressure on thinness imposed by this profession can be more easily accepted by eating-disorder 22 predisposed people.
Eating disorders among professional fashion models
PRETI, ANTONIO;PETRETTO, DONATELLA RITA;
2008-01-01
Abstract
Fashion models are thought to be at risk of having eating disorders, but so far few studies have explored this supposed higher 11 risk with a sound method. We have investigated the prevalence of eating disorders in a group of 55 fashion models born in Sardinia, 12 Italy, comparing them to a group of 110 girls of the same age and of comparable social and cultural background. The study was 13 based on questionnaires and face-to-face interviews, to reduce the bias due to symptom under-reporting and to social desirability 14 responding. When compared on three well-validated self-reported questionnaires (EAT, BITE, BAT), the models and controls did 15 not differ significantly. However, in a detailed interview (EDE), models reported significantly more eating-disorder symptoms than 16 controls, and a higher prevalence of partial syndromes of eating disorders was found in models than in controls. A body mass index 17 (BMI) below 18 was found for 34 models (54.5%) as compared with 14 controls (12.7%). Three models (5%) and no controls 18 reported an earlier clinical diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. Further studies will be necessary to establish whether the slight excess of 19 partial syndromes of eating disorders among fashion models was a consequence of the requirement in the profession to maintain a 20 slim figure or if the fashion modeling profession is preferably chosen by girls already oriented towards eating-disorder 21 symptomatology, since the pressure on thinness imposed by this profession can be more easily accepted by eating-disorder 22 predisposed people.
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