Anorexia nervosa among Egyptian adolescence girls: The intersection of eating disorders and body image concern

Anorexia nervosa is a significant concern among adolescent girls, particularly in Egypt, where societal pressures and body image concerns play a crucial role in its development. This study explores the relationship between body image perceptions and the severity of eating disorders among this demographic, providing insights into a region that has been underrepresented in global research. Methods: Design: A descriptive quantitative multicenter cross-sectional design was employed. Setting: The study was conducted in public schools across urban and rural areas in Egypt. Subjects: A convenient sample of 200 adolescent girls aged 12-18 years, diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, was included. Tools: Data collection was performed using a self-administered questionnaire developed based on recent literature, the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3), and the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). The reliability of the tools was confirmed with Cronbach's Alpha coefficients of 0.901 for eating disorder measures and 0.862 for body image. Results: The findings revealed that 58.5% of participants experienced moderate eating disorders, while 27% had severe and 14% had mild forms. Additionally, 44.5% showed moderate concern with body image, 29% experienced severe concern, and 16% had mild concern. Significant correlations were found between body image concern and eating disorder severity. Conclusion: The high prevalence of moderate to severe eating disorders and body image concerns among adolescent girls in Egypt highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions. More than half of the participants experience moderate levels of eating disorders, with over one-quarter suffering from severe forms. According to concerns about body image, half of the girls exhibit moderate concern, more than one quarter experience severe concern.