Disordered eating is a common problem in pre-adolescents and adolescents. About 30% to 60% of young girls show disordered eating at some point between the ages of 12 and 18

Abnormal eating patterns such as under-eating and binge eating are associated with a high disease burden (15th among the top 20 causes of disability)

Disordered eating encompasses extreme forms of eating such as the eating disorders (ED), anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), eating-disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) including binge eating disorder (BED); and less extreme problematic eating, such as over-eating and under-eating as well as unhealthy weight-control behaviours: self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diet pills, excessive exercise or fasting for weight loss. It affects the physical and mental health of young people, impacts upon school performance and interpersonal relations, and also increases the risk for eating disorders in later life.Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate amongst psychiatric disorders, and the mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate of all causes of death for females 15 - 24 years old. Moreover, disordered eating might induce long-standing changes in the neurobiological pathways affecting eating behaviours.

The purpose of this study is to identify the risk factors related to the development of disordered eating and to determine risk factors for the persistence of disordered eating during adolescence. This will aid the development of early intervention and preventative strategies for disturbed eating and in so doing have an impact on public health