Prevalence of Anorexia Nervosa among College girls in Ernakulam city, Kerala, India

One hundred and fifty college girls in the age group of 17-22 years from five different colleges of Ernakulam city, Kerala, India were studied using a standardized tool of anorexia nervosa that comprised of thirty closed ended questions on four dimensions/symptoms of anorexia nervosa: food avoidance, medical complications, psychological symptoms and body/figure consciousness. The data collected was consolidated, classified and statistically analyzed. Percentage analysis and Chi square analysis were used. More than half of college girls (63%) in the city suffered from mild symptoms of anorexia nervosa and also a quarter (27%) of students showed the beginning of symptoms. One tenth of the sample had experienced severe symptoms of anorexia nervosa. Mild symptoms of food avoidance (42.6%), medical complications (64.6%) and body or figure consciousness (49.3%) were found among girls. One fourth of the college girls showed the beginning of medical complications (24%), psychological symptoms (33.3%) and body or figure consciousness (33.3%). Twelve percent (12%) of the college girls had experienced serious psychological symptoms related to anorexia nervosa. The study showed that there is no significant difference in the prevalence of anorexia nervosa among college girls in the age group of 17-19 years and 20-22 years.