Diferencias de género en variables asociadas a los trastornos alimentarios

The aim of this study was to analyze gender differences in several variables involved in the development of eating disorders (ED): Overestimation of thinness, weight concerns, frequency of physical activity, dieting, subjective binge eating behavior, self-induced vomiting, domination that food has over a person’s life, and body image distortion. Participants were544 young adults (278 women and 266 men) aged between 18 and 35 years. The Eating Attitudes Test and a series of ad hoc questions were administered. In general terms, women reported worse scores than men. These results highlight the need to design preventive strategies that are specific for women and men, aimed at both strengthening the acceptance of their own bodies and promoting a critical view of the imposed aesthetic model. Keywords: Eating disorders; gender differences; women; men; body image; adults.Gender differences in variables associated with eating disorders Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze gender differences in several variables involved in the development of eating disorders (ED): Overestimation of thinness, weight concerns, frequency of physical activity, dieting, subjective binge eating behavior, self-induced vomiting, domination that food has over a person’s life, and body image distortion. Participants were 544 young adults (278 women and 266 men) aged between 18 and 35 years. The Eating Attitudes Test and a series of ad hoc questions were administered. In general terms, women reported worse scores than men. These results highlight the need to design preventive strategies that are specific for women and men, aimed at both strengthening the acceptance of their own bodies and promoting a critical view of the imposed aesthetic model. Keywords: Eating disorders; gender differences; women; men; body image; adults. Resumen: El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar las diferencias de género en diversas variables implicadas en el desarrollo de los trastornos alimentarios (TA): sobrevaloración de la delgadez, preocupación por el peso, frecuencia con la que realiza ejercicio físico, realización de dieta, conducta de atracón subjetivo, práctica de vómito autoinducido, dominación que ejerce la comida sobre la vida de la persona y distorsión de la imagen corporal. Participaron 544 adultos jóvenes (278 mujeres y 266 hombres) con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 35 años. Se administraron el Eating Attitudes Test y una serie de preguntas elaboradas de forma ad hoc. Las mujeres, en general, presentaban peores puntuaciones que los hombres. Estos resultados dejan patente la necesidad de desarrollar estrategias preventivas específicas para mujeres y hombres, dirigidas tanto a reforzar la propia aceptación corporal como a fomentar una visión crítica del modelo estético corporal impuesto. Palabras clave: trastornos alimentarios; diferencias de género; mujeres; hombres; imagen corporal; adultos