Authors report on results of a questionnaire screening in randomly selected primary and grammar schools in Prague and České Budějovice focused on the identifi cation of inappropriate eating attitudes and assessment of an impact of factors that can infl uence a development of eating disorders. The results of the study of 706 boys and 725 girls confi rmed that already in an older school age (an average age of 14.5 years), especially at girls, risk diet attitudes were very strong. Between 14 and 15 years of age no considerable change occurs in this respect. 60% of girls reported that they were not satisfi ed with their bodies and further 60% of girls reported that they wished to lose weight. 2% of girls reported that they vomited at least once a week for these reasons; altogether 10.5% of given girls reported an experience of vomiting for diet reasons. 13.8% of girls had higher than critical score in EAT-26. This group, risk from the point of view of eating disorders, had an increased risk also regarding addiction to psychoactive substances (they smoked cigarettes, marihuana and used alcohol drinks more often). In comparison with their peers, surprisingly, they had a higher self-esteem and a low score of pedantry (EDI). Their mothers and sisters dieted more often, their mothers were treated in psychiatry more often, a relationship with their fathers was evaluated as unsatisfactory and a climate in their families as tense. Their families ate together less often and were more oriented to an exceptional performance. Girls with a high EAT score had an opportunity to go out for entertainment more often, went shopping or to shopping centres more often, did sports and toned up at home more.

        Key words: eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, adolescence, addiction.