Exploring the Relationship Between Body Dissatisfaction, Disordered Eating Behaviors and BMI, Measured by The Kids Eating Disorder Survey (KEDS) In Hispanic Adolescents

Diagnosed eating disorders are present in 3% of adolescents, with Hispanic adolescents having the highest prevalence. Disordered eating behaviors and weight dissatisfaction are risk factors for the development of diagnosed eating disorders. It is essential to understand the relationship between BMI, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating behaviors in Hispanic adolescents. Therefore the objectives of the current study are to 1) determine validity of the Kids Eating Disorder survey (KEDS), a self-report screener for purging/restriction behaviors and weight dissatisfaction in Hispanic adolescents, 2) examine the prevalence of purging/restriction behaviors and weight dissatisfaction in Hispanic adolescents, and 3) examine the mediating role of weight dissatisfaction and the moderating role of gender between standardized body mass index (zBMI), and purging/restriction behaviors in Hispanic adolescents. This study was conducted as a secondary data analysis using the FLOW intervention, an intervention of middle school students who attend an urban charter school in the city of Houston, TX. The sample included 690 male and female Hispanic adolescents. Height, weight, and the KEDS (Kids Eating Disorder Survey) data were extracted from baseline data. Confirmatory factor analysis in Mplus was applied to validate the KEDS in Hispanic adolescents. Standard parametric, non-parametric methods, and Chi-square tests were used to compare weight dissatisfaction and disordered eating behavior items by gender and weight class (under/normal weight verse overweight/obesity). Finally, mediation and moderation were assessed with Hayes' PROCESS macros in SPSS to test the indirect effect of X (zBMI) on Y (purging/restrict behaviors) through M (weight dissatisfaction). Moderation was assessed by the interaction of W (gender) on each of the variables. Findings from this study showed Modified –KEDS (M-KEDS) is a valid screening instrument for purging/restriction behaviors and weight dissatisfaction in Hispanic male and female adolescents. Among Hispanic adolescents, those with overweight/obesity are most likely to have high levels of weight dissatisfaction and purging/restriction behaviors. Also, the indirect effect of weight dissatisfaction on the relationship between body size (zBMI) and purging/restriction behaviors was identified in this sample. The findings of this study have implications for future research, suggesting the need to address both body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors together in Hispanic adolescents.