Prevalence and psychological correlates of eating disorders among females aged 18-30 years in the general population

Objective: The prevalence of eating disorders (ED) according to DSM-IV, and also correlates of ED, were examined. Method: This study represented the first phase of a questionnaire-based prospective study. The subjects consisted of 1157 women randomly selected from the general population of females aged 18-30 years in Sweden. Results: Lifetime and point prevalences of 7.8% and 2.6%, respectively, were reported for ED. Subjects with ED reported lower self-esteem, less perceived social support from the family and higher concern about body shape than controls. Conclusion: Establishing the prevalence and correlates of ED simultaneously and longitudinally among females in the general population may promote our understanding of the development, course and maintenance of ED.