Prevalence of eating disorders at three universities in the Western Cape

Bibliography: leaves 49-57.Since the 1970's there has been prevalence of eating disorders in especially among adolescent and young women, notably university students. While eating disorders are multidetermined, sociocultural factors have been particularly implicated, among them, pressures to be thin and successful. In developing countries and among ethnic minorities in Western societies, increasing numbers of women, especially achievement-orientated, Westernised young women from upwardly mobile families, have also been found to be at risk for developing eating disorders. This study seeks to establish the prevalence of eating disorders in a sample of South African university students, to investigate the presentation of eating disturbance in African and coloured students, and to establish the extent of body shape dissatisfaction