The Correlation between Bulimia Nervosa and Depression in Period of Adolescence

Abstract

Background: Eating disorders are a group of mental health concerns characterized by disturbance in eating behavior that including: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and other types of disordered eating. In the period of puberty adolescents are becoming increasingly vulnerable to eating disorders.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of possible eating disorder (bulimia nervosa) and depression in the period of puberty.

Methods: Participants in this study were 233 8^th-grades Basic General Education Student (Secondary), of whom 128 were boys and 105 girls, with an average mean age of 14 years. The Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) and Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) were applied to the entire study population. Also we calculate the Body Mass Index (BMI: a parameter defines as the ratio of human body weight and height.

Results: According to the EAT, 73 (32%) students had a EAT score indicating a possible diagnosis of bulimia nervosa. But on the other hand we found that 188 (81%) students had emotional symptoms of depression Correlation results indicated that depressed mood scores positively correlated with bulimia scores.

Conclusions: We observed high prevalence of bulimia nervosa and depression in the period of puberty.

Key words: adolescents, BMI, bulimia nervosa, depression