This dissertation presents the results of a study comparing French (N=1073) and U.S. American (N=1573) adolescents for cultural differences in every day eating (EDE) habits and attitudes, eating disorders (ED) such as anorexia (AN) and bulimia (BN), and weight status, in particular, obesity (OB). Subjects were compared for weight status, EDE, body dissatisfaction (which is linked to EDs and OB), ED symptoms and " diagnoses " of AN and BN. After developing an instrument to assess EDE, a series of questionnaires were administered in several French and American high schools. The main hypotheses for the study were: 1.) that the French would report a lower prevalence of OB and overweight compared to Americans ; 2.) that the French would report more "healthy" EDE behaviors and attitudes; and 3.) that prevalence of clinical and sub-clinical ED would be lower for the French group compared the American group. The results on weight status support the first hypothesis. The results of the EDE assessment support the second hypothesis. However, the third hypothesis was not confirmed in this study.
