Efficacy of an integrated program (PIA-2) to reduce the risk for problems related to eating, weight and body image in female adolescents from Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the efficacy of an integrated program (PIA-2) to reduce the risk for problems related to eating, weight and body image in female adolescents from Argentina. METHOD: A quasi-experimental study was conducted by comparing an experimental group versus a control group. The final sample included 509 girls aged 13-18 (M = 15.39 and SD = 1.30) from nine schools located in three geographical regions. They provided data at three assessment time points: baseline, post-intervention and a 3-month follow-up. Dependent variables included skipping breakfast, physical activity, eating disorder risk and thin-ideal internalization. The program was carried out in three 90-minute sessions within usual school hours, at 1-week intervals. RESULTS: Participants who received the intervention decreased more than the control group in skipping breakfast month by month. However, a significant effect of the intervention was not found on physical activity, eating disorder risk, and thin-ideal internalization. DISCUSSION: The presence of mixed findings shows the need to adjust the intervention to enhance the results. The importance of working jointly with other Latin American countries is emphasized, in order to promote the growth of the field of prevention, regarding cultural particularities shared by our societies. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Integrated programs aimed at reducing risk factors for the entire spectrum of problems related to eating, weight and body image could lead to beneficial and more efficient effects. However, their development is still incipient in Latin America. PIA-2 Program, designed for female adolescents, produced positive results in one of the four variables studied, decreasing the weekly frequency of skipping breakfast among adolescents. This is pioneering research in Argentina and the region since very few studies on integrated prevention have been published in Latin America. It is crucial to continue with efforts aimed at developing programs that are suited to the specific needs of the population of Latin American countries. In this aspect, our study is undoubtedly an important contribution.

Development and validation of a multicultural Spanish-language version of the Muscularity-Oriented Eating Test (MOET) in Argentina.

The utility of traditional eating disorder measures in the assessment of muscularity-oriented disordered eating has been questioned. To address this limitation, the Muscularity-Oriented Eating Test (MOET) was recently developed and validated in a sample of U.S. college men. We aimed to develop a multicultural Spanish-language version of the MOET for use in Latin American samples and validate its use in a sample of Argentinian college men. Combined translation procedures were used to develop a version suitable for different Spanish-speaking populations. A total of 235 students (Mage = 23.47, SD = 5.61) participated in this study by completing a survey including the MOET. A sub-sample (n = 121) completed the MOET again after 1 week. A confirmatory factor analysis of a re-specified model of the original single-factor MOET, allowing for residual correlation between items associated to dietary rules (items 4-12), resulted in an adequate fit (χ2/df = 2.10, CFI = 0.94, TLI = 0.93, RMSEA 0.05 [90% CI = 0.04, 0.06] SRMR = 0.08). Further, the multicultural Spanish-language version of the MOET yielded evidence of internal consistency (omega = 0.83, 95% CI [0.79, 0.88], Cronbach's α = 0.83), a 1-week Intraclass Correlation Coefficient was considered for test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.82), item analysis, convergent validity with measures of eating disorder psychopathology, body dissatisfaction and weight-related behaviors, as well as for divergent validity with an unrelated construct. The availability of a multicultural Spanish-language version of the MOET may have utility in both clinical and research efforts related to muscularity-oriented disordered eating among Latino men.

Confirmatory factor analysis and measurement invariance of the eating disorders examination-questionnaire across four male samples in Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: The eating disorder examination-questionnaire (EDE-Q) is among the most widely used instruments in eating disorder research and clinical practice. However, the underlying structure remains a source of confusion, and contradictory results have emerged in studies among male populations. In the current study, we examined previously proposed models of EDE-Q structure in four community samples of Argentinian men. METHOD: A series of confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were performed for five previous factor structure models of the EDE-Q among 232 Argentinian male university students, 277 weightlifters, 275 cross-fit users, and 202 athletes. A multigroup CFA was conducted in the model we retained, to assess measurement invariance across groups. RESULTS: A respecified model of the brief eight-item one-factor proposal provided acceptable fit to the data over the original four-factor structure and three other proposed models. Results from the multigroup CFA showed that the retained model was invariant across samples. CONCLUSION: Our results provide support for retaining a one-factor EDE-Q structure over a multifactor solution for research purposes among male community samples in Argentina. These data underscore the importance of undertaking psychometric assessment of eating disorder symptom measures before their utilization in specific populations.

Dimensiones del perfeccionismo (adaptativo y desadaptativo) en adolescentes con trastorno de la conducta alimentaria / Dimensions of perfectionism (adaptive and maladaptive) in adolescents with eating disorder

Resumen Este estudio analizó la asociación de las dimensiones adaptativa y desadaptativa del perfeccionismo con la presencia de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (TCA), de riesgo de TCA, y algunas características inherentes a estos trastornos. Participaron 246 mujeres adolescentes, de 13 a 19 anos de edad, divididas en tres grupos: con TCA (n = 59), con riesgo de TCA (n = 17) y sin TCA o riesgo (n = 170); esto definido a través de la entrevista para Examinación de Trastornos Alimentarios (EDE). Las participantes completaron el Inventario de Trastornos Alimentarios (EDI-3) y la Escala Casi Perfecta-Revisada (APS-R). En congruencia con los modelos que sostienen la existencia de dos dimensiones bien delimitadas del perfeccionismo, las adolescentes con TCA y riesgo presentaron mayores puntuaciones que aquellas sin TCA en Discrepancia (dimensión desadaptativa), pero no en Altos estándares (dimensión adaptativa). Además se hallaron asociaciones positivas entre Discrepancia y todas las subescalas del EDI-3, excepto Miedo a madurar. No obstante, en el grupo con TCA también se hallaron asociaciones positivas de los Altos estándares y el Orden con la Búsqueda de delgadez, resultado que no permite afirmar el valor adaptativo de estas dos últimas dimensiones del perfeccionismo entre las adolescentes con TCA.

Abstract This study analyzed the association of adaptive and maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism in women with eating disorders (ED), risk of ED, and inherent features of ED. The sample included 246 women aged between 13 and 19 years divided into three groups: with ED (n = 59), in risk of ED (n = 17), and without ED or risk (n = 170); for group assignation participants were interviewed with the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE). Participants completed the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI-3) and the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R). According to the models that state the existence of two well defined dimensions of perfectionism, adoles cents in risk of ED and with ED got higher scores in Discrepancy (maladaptive dimension), but not in High standards (adaptive dimension). Besides positive associations were found between Discrepancy and all scales of EDI-3, except for Maturity fears; however also in the ED group positive associations were found between High standards and Order with Drive for thinness, result that do not allow to confirm the adaptive value of these two latter dimensions of perfectionism among adolescents with ED.