Awareness of Eating Disorders, Nutritional Knowledge, and Emotionally Driven Eating Among Polish Adolescents Aged 15-17-A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Despite the growing awareness of nutrition and the popularity of healthy lifestyles among adolescents, disordered eating behaviors-such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder (BED), and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)-remain significant public health concerns. ARFID, officially recognized only in 2013, is still poorly understood among youth. This study aimed to assess the relationship between adolescents' nutritional knowledge, emotional regulation, media influence, and eating behaviors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 among 120 students aged 15-17 attending W. Reymont Secondary School No. II in Ostrów Wielkopolski, Poland. Participants completed a custom-designed, paper-based questionnaire consisting of 30 single-choice questions and demographic items. The instrument assessed knowledge of eating disorders, body satisfaction, social media impact, and the emotional determinants of food choices. The tool was developed with expert input but has not undergone formal psychometric validation. While many adolescents demonstrated basic nutritional knowledge-such as awareness of BMI norms and food group distribution-they often failed to apply this knowledge to their dietary behaviors. Results: Significant gender differences were observed: girls were more likely to restrict food intake, report emotional eating, and engage in slimming behaviors, while boys were less emotionally reactive and less influenced by social media. Most participants reported eating one meal daily with family but rarely discussed nutrition at home. Emotional involvement in eating, particularly among girls, emerged as a key factor, more influential than social media in shaping dietary behaviors. Conclusions: The findings highlight a clear gap between nutritional knowledge and actual behavior among adolescents, driven in part by emotional dysregulation and body image concerns. School-based interventions should incorporate not only nutritional education but also emotional regulation strategies and media literacy to effectively support healthy eating behaviors in youth.

Keywords: adolescent awareness; eating disorders; prevalence of disorders.

Figure 1

Declared breakfast time for young women and young men.

Figure 2

Declared consumption of snacks [%].

Figure 3

Declaring the frequency of practicing sports outside of school [%].

Figure 4

Respondents’ declaration on the influence of social media on the perception of their appearance.