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Abstract Introduction Adolescents are the group with the highest risk of developing disordered eating behaviors (DEB). Preventing this problem is of the utmost importance due to the physical and psychological consequences. Objective To evaluate the effects of a universal prevention program for disordered eating behaviors (DEB), thin ideal internalization (TII), drive for muscularity (DM), and sedentary lifestyle among Mexican adolescents. Method A quasi-experimental study with repeated measures (pre-test, post-test, six-month, and one-year follow-up) was carried out in a non-probabilistic sample of 523 adolescents (46.7% of females) aged 15-19 years (Mage = 16.07). We worked in two private high schools, one of them was designed as control group (CG), and the other as intervention group (IG). For both, female and male adolescents', data were collected using the Brief Questionnaire for Disordered Eating Behaviors (BQDEB) and the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). To evaluate TII the Attitudes toward Body Figure Questionnaire was applied in females, while in males Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS) was used. Results After one-year, repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) revealed a significant reduction of the mean DEBs scores both in female (p = .01) and male (p = .03) adolescents of the IG with respect to CG. In IG, females decreased significantly the mean TII score as well as the mean DM score in males. Physical Activity increased in IG females from pre-test to posttest; however, the effect was not maintained over time. Discussion and conclusion These findings have important implications for future interventions with Mexican adolescents. We must take sex differences into account to choose activities and strategies that will enhance the effects of the program.
Resumen Introducción Los adolescentes constituyen el grupo con mayor riesgo de desarrollar conductas alimentarias de riesgo (CAR). Prevenirlas es de suma importancia debido a las consecuencias físicas y psicosociales. Objetivo Evaluar los efectos de un programa de prevención universal en conductas alimentarias de riesgo (CAR), interiorización del ideal de delgadez (IID), obsesión por la musculatura (OM) y sedentarismo en adolescentes mexicanos. Método Estudio cuasi-experimental con medidas repetidas (pre-test, post-test, seguimiento a seis meses y un año) en una muestra no probabilística de 523 adolescentes (46.7% mujeres) de 15-19 años de edad (Medad = 16.07). Se trabajó en dos escuelas preparatorias privadas, una como grupo control (GC) y otra como grupo intervenido (GI). Para mujeres y hombres, los datos se recolectaron usando el Cuestionario Breve para Conductas Alimentarias de Riesgo (CBCAR) y la versión corta del Cuestionario Internacional de Actividad Física (IPAQ). Para evaluar el IID en mujeres, se utilizó el Cuestionario de Actitudes hacia la Figura Corporal (CAFC) y en hombres la Escala para Obsesión por la Musculatura (DMS). Resultados Después de un año, el ANOVA de medidas repetidas mostró una reducción significativa en la media de CAR, tanto en mujeres (p = .01) como en hombres (p = .03) del GI respecto al GC. En el GI, la media de IID en mujeres disminuyó significativamente, así como la media de OM en hombres. La actividad física aumentó en las mujeres del GI desde el pre-test hasta el post-test; sin embargo, el efecto no se mantuvo en el tiempo. Discusión y conclusión Estos hallazgos tienen implicaciones para futuras intervenciones con adolescentes mexicanos. Se deben tomar en cuenta las diferencias por sexo para elegir las actividades y las estrategias que potenciarían los efectos del programa.
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PURPOSE: Adolescent men have been identified as a risk population to develop eating disorders and other psychopathologies as drive for muscularity (DM) recently considered as muscularity-oriented disordered eating. It is important to identify risk factors as precursors of these pathologies. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of developing disordered eating behaviors (DEB) and DM and its relationship with anthropometric indicators and physical activity (PA) in adolescent men (high-school students, age 15-19) from Hidalgo, Mexico. METHODS: A cross sectional, descriptive, and correlational field study was carried out in a non-probabilistic sample of 267 Mexican adolescents aged 15-19 years. Participants completed measures of DM, DEB, and PA. Each subject was weighted and heighted to calculate body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and fat-free mass index (FFMI). RESULTS: Adolescents in the DM risk category (OR 8.28, CI 2.71-25.22) had significantly greater odds of developing DEB, while adolescents with higher BMI scores (OR 1.28, CI 1.14-1.45) tended to be more likely of developing DEB. The results showed that DEB and moderate PA were associated with DM; adolescents who engaged in DEB had an 8.64 times (CI 3.05-24.52) higher risk of developing DM. Participants classified in the category of highest moderate PA (OR 2.66, CI 1.26-5.59) had significantly greater odds of developing DM. CONCLUSION: Important percentages of the risk of developing DEB and DM were determined in Mexican adolescent men. In agreement with other findings, there were no associations between anthropometric indicators and DM. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V, descriptive cross-sectional study.