Young adolescents and eating disorders : the level of awareness on eating disorders in Maltese secondary schools

Abstract

This piece of work analyses the level of awareness about eating disorders among young adolescents in Maltese Secondary schools. The study also concentrates on the prevention of eating disorders. Literature regarding prevention intervention programmes abroad is reviewed. The study also takes a look at the local education system focusing on what is currently being done in our country to prevent the onset of eating disorders among adolescents. The study proceeds with a quantitative research examining how much Form 3 students in a sample of state, church and private schools know about eating disorders and whether they possess skills related to their prevention. Moreover, the research also looks into how much adolescents are at risk for developing eating disorders, especially in regards to dieting behaviour. The level of awareness about eating disorders of parents and teachers is also investigated. From this research, it was determined that awareness about these disorders is very lacking in our country, not only among adolescents, but also among parents and teachers. In view of this, this study, which is accompanied by several recommendations given at the end of this piece of work, aims at increasing the level of awareness on the subject, to alleviate the distress and turmoil eating disorders sufferers constantly face