Identifier: TDX:613
Authors: Pérez Manuel, Susana
Abstract:
OBJETIVES:- To estimate the prevalence of eating disorders (ED) at a different levels of severity (diagnosed as anorexia and nervous bulimia and eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) and symptoms of ED) in teenagers from the town of Tarragona and surrounding areas of Tarragona.- To describe and analysed the varying degrees of severity of the EDs.- To evaluate the influence of the different factors which contribute to the risk of contracting EDs.METHODS AND MATERIAL: A cross sectional study in two phases of teenagers of both sexes (12-16 years) who study (1st ,2nd ESO) in 26 both publics and privates schools in the Tarragona region. First phase (n=2967): To evaluate the prevalence of EDs symptoms using two screening test: Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) and Youth's Inventory. Second phase: only females studied (n=295). With the results of the test two groups were selected those which fell into the risk category (EAT>25 or Youth's (+) for ED) and non-risk category of ED (controls); evaluating: body satisfaction and autoperception, sociocultural influence, family climate, psychopathologic symptoms, physical activity, knowledge, preferences and dietary habits using written questionnaires. Individually evaluated was: food consumption using 24-h recall, body composition and the interview 'Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry' (SCAN) in version DSM-IV, ICD-10 was administered to obtain the diagnoses.RESULTS:13,3-17,1% of participants were considered at risk of suffering from an ED (18,9-22,5% females, 7,6-11,7% males) depending on the screening test used. The education level of parents is lower in parents of those female teenagers with ED symptoms. Stressful family backgrounds are also associated with a greater risk of ED symptoms. The estimate prevalence of ED in females is 5,2% (CI 95%: 5-5,4), nervous anorexia (0,53%) (CI 95%: 0,5-0,55), bulimia (0,66%) (CI 95%: 0,63-0-68) and EDNOS (4 %) (CI 95%: 3,83-4,17 ). Socioeconomic and educational stages of the parents were not associated with ED. EDNOS were more prevalent in teenagers with stressful family situations: divorce, living with a step-parent or unrelated people, and not living with the birth mother. As well as those factors affecting the severity of eating disorders, other factors include teenagers descriptions of the closeness of family, family conflicts and control; the evidence also notes the increase of psychopathologic symptoms. EDNOS are more frequently found among heavily-built teenage girls, 77,3% of those and the 40% of the teenagers at risk of ED reported high body dissatisfaction. There is a steady decline in the daily intake of food, energy and nutrients directly related to the severity of ED. The teenagers at risk of ED y the adolescents with EDNOS consume respectively around 500 to 900 Kcal. less than the controls. The probability of unsuitable intake is higher in those teenagers at risk of EDs and those with EDNOS. 67% and 86% respectively consume less than the recommended amount of calcium. There is a higher probability of unsuitable vitamin intake in adolescents with EDNOS that could be related to mental factors and this in itself could be another factor which contributes to the continuation of EDs. Caloric restraint is a risk factor that applies to all levels of ED. The risk of symptoms of EDs are directly related to factors such as anxiety, and to have any relative on diet; while the risk of EDNOS is related to a high body mass index (BMI), body dissatisfaction and stressful events (divorced parents).
Repositori URV