[Analysis of eating attitudes in a sample of adolescents from Sevilla].

Background And Objective: Studies in communitarian samples are the most used for detection of eating disorders. We analyze the presence of these disorders in a sample of teenagers in Seville.

Population And Method: Two questionnaires were applied, both internationally recognized for this type of analysis (EAT-40 and SCOFF), to 318 students, male and female, 12-18 years old. The prevalence of disorders was analyzed according to the cut-off point of the tests, the differences between men and women, the evolution according to age and the correlation between both instruments.

Results: We found that 22.8% individuals had significant scores in the SCOFF and 9.43% in the EAT-40. Among men and women, the differences turned out to be significant (6.66% and 2.66% in SCOFF and EAT-40 for male students; 29.66% and 15.47% for female). There was a positive correlation between the SCOFF scores and the age of the students, and we observed a <> in 12 years old men, the only age at which they surpassed women in the percentage of positives with both tests.

Conclusions: We found a prevalence of eating disorders that as higher than reported in other studies of the 80-90s. This seems to indicate that we are attending a greater presence of risk behaviours, slightly more in women. The concordance between the 2 instruments is adequate, and they are useful for the screening of eating disorders, although a confirmation structured interview is necessary.