ABSTRACT
Body image concerns and disordered eating typically emerge in adolescence, increasing the risk for development of eating disorders (EDs) (Treasure, Stein, & Maguire, 2015). The peak age of onset for anorexia nervosa (AN) occurs during adolescence (14-18) (Pinhas, Morris, Crosby, & Katzman, 2011), and bulimia nervosa (BN) symptoms increase between the ages of 14-16 for adolescent girls (Abebe, Lien, & von Soest, 2012). EDs are associated with high rates of mortality across all ages (Arcelus, Mitchell, Wales, & Nielsen, 2011) due to life-threatening medical complications and suicide (Campbell & Peebles, 2014). The rise in eating disorders and the highest risk of mortality (Arcelus, Bouman, & Morgan, 2008) coincide with a developmental stage that is characterized by major life changes, including individuation from the family, relationship building, transferring from secondary to post-secondary education settings, and entering the workforce (Arnett, 2007).
