| Abstract: | A survey of 421 high school females was conducted to determine the prevalence of the binge/purge practice, bulimia, an eating disorder. Teenage vomiters in this study were found to have higher levels of somatic symptoms, anxiety, social dysfunction, and depression than did nonvomiters. They were also found to have disturbed attitudes toward food, eating, and dieting. Of the vomiters, 58% scored above the threshold score that indicates the presence of psychological and behavioral symptoms characteristic of anorexia nervosa. The findings provide information useful to school personnel who work with the social, behavioral, and academic problems of adolescents. |
