BULIMIA AND OTHER DISORDERS OF EATING BEHAVIOR AT ADOLESCENCE - EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY BY FRENCH SCHOLARS

In the first French epidemiological study on bulimia in adolescence prevalence rate of the disorder in the general adolescent population is estimated to 1.1 % in girls and 0.2 % in boys. Bulimic adolescent girls differ from those with other, more common eating disturbances (prandial hyperphagia, overeating between meals) by a specific clinical picture. Impairment from the disorder is marked on emotional functioning, 71 % of bulimics already had a major depressive episode ; however, school and social activities are still maintained. The results talk for early recognition and treatment of bulimia in adolescence.