The attitudes which put teenage girls at risk for eating disorders are considerably more prevalent in Utah than in some neighboring states.

That's just one troubling find Utah doctors made in some new research.

News Specialist Nadine Wimmer continues her special report on eating disorders.

They found those with eating disorders are getting younger.

And because of a unique cultural environment, Utah seems to have a special problem with the factors that put teens at-risk and make bulimia far too common in the halls of all of our high schools.

"I WAS THINKING I WAS FAT."

"THEY GET PRAISE AND POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE."

"I STARTED RESTRICTING MY FOOD."

The desire to look beautiful is often mistaken for the drive behind eating disorders.

This patient's experience illustrates how far off common perceptions can be. As early as sixth grade, she was skipping meals. In junior high, she hardly ate at all.

By high school, she had a full blown eating disorder that she'd been able to conceal.

EMILY LITTLEDIKE/EATING DISORDER PATIENT: "I'D EAT MEALS WITH MY FAMILY, WHATEVER THEY ATE, THEY'D NEVER NOTICE. THEN I'D SNEAK AWAY AND THROW IT UP."

After years of counseling and even in-patient treatment, she still hasn't overcome her problem.

Doctors say it's not simple vanity, but deep set issues of self-esteem that lead to eating disorders.

Dr. Scott Richards/Center for Change: "IT BECOMES ONE WAY WHERE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN SUCCEED. THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN BE IN CONTROL OF THEIR EATING, THEY CAN BE THINNER."

Richards helped conduct a study on Utah teens' eating habits and attitudes. His findings are startling:

26-percent -- more than one out of four girls admit to missing meals regularly.

8-percent admit they make themselves throw up.

As many as 13-percent test positive for already having an eating disorder.

That's not much different from trends nationwide. But here's what is. Research shows attitudes that lead to disorders are higher in Utah.

They found 45-percent of girls believe there's something wrong with the way I look.

48-percent feel they have to do things perfectly.

When compared with teens in Nevada, Utahns score much higher in the abnormal range.

"MY PERCEPTION IS THAT HERE IN UTAH THERE'S A LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND PRESSURE ON KIDS TO BE GOOD."

"THE PRESSURE AND THE INFLUENCE TO BE SO GOOD AND TO BE SO PERFECT PLAYS INTO THE DYNAMICS OF EATING DISORDERS AND CAN POTENTIALLY PUT KIDS AT MORE RISK."

They're doing more research for more conclusive answers.

In the meantime, doctors and educators encourage parents to look for warnings signs and take them seriously. For example, look for evidence of noticeable weight loss, what's described as a sunken face, and teens who are constantly sick.

Others are less obvious-- teens who always excuse themselves after a meal, or those who rarely eat anything but soda crackers or rice cakes.

Stan Ellsworth/Psychology Teacher "IF THEY'RE AROUND A GROUP THAT IS EATING, THEY'VE GOT A DIET COKE, OR THEY'LL EAT A CRACKER AND OR A PIECE OF BREAD AND THAT'S WHAT THEY EAT."

Another interesting thing from the research-- there were few differences between boys and girls regarding the number who purged and used laxatives. So it's not always just a problem with girls.