Alexithymia and eating attitudes among adolescent and young girls of non-clinical population

The link between alexithymia and eating disturbances risk among 117 girls (age 17,6 + 3,2) of Moscow non-clinical population was studied. Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26), Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2), Body appreciation scale (BAS) were used. Girls with evident alexithymia show higher potential risk of eating disturbances (EAT-26 total score above 20), than girls without alexithymia. TAS-20 total score demonstrates positive correlations with EAT-26 total score and "Oral control" subscale, and with EDI-2 subscales: "Drive for thinness", "Ascetism", "Maturity fears", "Ineffectiveness", "Social insecurity", "Emotional disregulation", "Interoceptive deficits". The negative correlations between TAS-20 total score, body dissatisfaction and body mass index were obtained. The role of alexithymia as possible predictor of eating disturbances was discussed.