Objectives: This study was designed to compare the risk of having an eating disorder (ED) among immigrant and native adolescents living in Madrid and to determine the possible influence of length of residence (LOR) on the risk of the immigrants. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from november 2007 to february 2008 in a representative sample of adolescents aged 13 to 17 years (n = 2,077, 1,052 girls) living in the Madrid region. Data were collected using the Spanish version of the SCOFF Eating Disorders Questionnaire. Further factors considered were country of birth, LOR and several biological, socio-demographic, lifestyle and health-related variables. Results: According to the three logistic regression models constructed, female immigrant adolescents on the whole showed a greater ED risk (OR = 1.95; 95%CI 1.29-2.95; p = 0.001) than native adolescents. Moreover, the likelihood of ED was higher among female immigrants living in Spain for <6 years than for Spanish native females (OR = 2.44; 95%CI 1.42-4.18; p = 0.001), while no significant differences were found when female natives were compared with female immigrants living in this country for ≥ 6 years. Similarly, no differences were observed in the ED risk recorded for male native and immigrant adolescents, both as a whole and by length of residence in Spain. Conclusions: The immigrant status and the length of Spanish residence are relevant factors in regard to the ED risk in adolescents living in Madrid.

Length of residence Spain Eating disorders Inmigration Acculturation

Ethnic Groups male Emigrants and Immigrants statistics and numerical data ethnic group diet Spain female Humans cross-sectional study Diet Surveys Cross-Sectional Studies human Eating Disorders migrant sexual development Sex Characteristics Adolescent