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Comparative study of attitudes to eating between male and female students in the People’s Republic of China

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Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to compare eating attitudes and lifestyles of male and female college students in China (Beijing). Subjects And Methods: The subjects of this study consisted of 217 male and 177 female college students. They were asked to fill out the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and a lifestyle questionnaire. Results: The percentages of those above the cutoff point on the EAT-26 for abnormal eating attitudes were 4.7% of male and 6.2% of female students. Body perception of being fat (distorted body image) was the factor most associated with abnormal eating attitudes. Discussion: Weight related concern was prevalent amongst the Chinese students. This suggests that the culture of the beauty of thinness is common among young students in Beijing, particularly female students.

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Correspondence to L. Dennerstein.

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Makino, M., Hashizume, M., Tsuboi, K. et al. Comparative study of attitudes to eating between male and female students in the People’s Republic of China. Eat Weight Disord 11, 111–117 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327555

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327555

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