Eating disorders and self esteem

A study of 3,972 women in Canada looked at the links between disturbed eating patterns and a range of socio-demographic, psychological and health factors. The study found that underweight women were more likely to be preoccupied with food and their body image and feel external pressures to eat. Being young was not associated with disturbed eating attitudes but the lower people's self esteem the more likely they were to have disturbed eating patterns. However there was also a link between high self esteem and dieting.

Park, Jungwee and Beaudet, Marie P. - Eating attitudes and their correlates among Canadian women concerned about their weight European Eating Disorders Review July-August 2007, 15(4), 311-320