London, Dec 21 (ANI): More than one in ten Brit women have eating disorders such as binge eating and bulimia, reveals a new study.

The researchers say that women who perceived themselves to be in poor health are more likely to suffer from eating disorders.

“Our results are disquieting,” the Telegraph quoted Lise Gauvin, a professor at the Universite de Montreal Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, as saying.

“Women are exposed to many contradictory messages. They are encouraged to lose weight yet also encouraged to eat for the simple pleasure of it,” Gauvin added.

The study showed that about 13.7 percent of women reported binge eating one to five days or one to seven times per month.

The researchers also found that 2.5pct of women reported forcing themselves to vomit, use laxatives, or use diuretics to maintain their weight or shape.

Another finding of the study was that 28 percent of women complete intense exercise twice a month with the sole objective of losing weight or influencing.

“We practice a sport for the pleasure it provides, to feel good, but when the activity is done to gain control over one’s weight and figure, it is indicative of someone who could be excessively concerned about their weight,” said Gauvin.

The expert added: “Our data suggests that a proportion of the female population displays maladaptive eating patterns.” (ANI)