Some correlates of dieting behavior in Saudi schoolgirls

Objectives The study examines the correlates of dieting behavior among Saudi schoolgirls. Methods Stratified cluster sampling was used to select female students from Grades 7 to 11 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Subjects completed a sociodemographic data sheet and the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI); their heights and weights were measured by a trained nurse. The total sample size was 1,271 students with a response rate of 92.76%. Results 15.9% scored positively on the EDI‐Drive for Thinness subscale. Body mass index, speaking a Western language, and having lived in a Western country were the most significant personal factors associated with dieting behavior. Small family size and higher parental education and better occupation were significant family factors associated with dieting. Discussion Results reflect some culture‐specific findings that are explained in cultural terms. © 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 28: 242–246, 2000.