[Entrapped by the beauty industry: eating and body attitudes of those working in the beauty industry].

Some groups of professionals (models, actresses, ballet dancers, jockeys and athletes) are considered as risk populations for eating disorders and body image disorders. We assume that those working in the beauty industry may also be a high risk group for developing eating disorders, as their work is closely related to beauty and fashion.Eating disorders were assessed using the Eating Attitudes Test and the Eating Behaviour Severity Scale, and the tests for assessment of body image included the Human Figure Drawings Test, the Body dissatisfaction subscale of the Eating Disorders Inventory, the Body Attitudes Test, and the Body Investment Scale.Questionnaire data of 543 subjects were analysed. The study sample comprised 128 models from Transylvania (5 males, 123 females) and 167 models from Hungary (10 males, 157 females). These groups were compared with control groups in Transylvania and Hungary, consisting of 148 (25 males, 123 females) subjects in Transylvania and 101 subjects (5 males, 95 females) in Hungary. Weight reducing methods, such as dieting, exercise, the use of appetite suppressants and diuretics, were significantly more prevalent in the group of models. The mean total score and the scores of the Dieting and Bulimia subscales were higher in the group of models in comparison with the control group. The prevalence of clinical and subclinical eating disorders was higher in the group of models. The percentage of subjects scoring above the cut-off score on the Body Dissatisfaction Scale of the Eating Disorder Inventory was higher in the Hungarian control group. The Hungarian control subjects scored higher on the General Body Dissatisfaction Scale of the Body Attitudes Test. Models invest more money and time in their body care. The above results suggest that working in beauty industry may pose an increased risk of developing eating disorders.