RESUMO
Abstract Introduction: According to estimations, eating disorders affect 1-4% of the general population. In Colombia, few studies address this issue; however it has been found that the percentage of women with anorexia in Bogotá D.C. is similar to figures worldwide. Objective: To identify the risk of developing eating disorders (ED) in sixth through eighth grade students from a private school of Bogotá D.C. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional quantitative study conducted in sixth through eighth grade students from a school of Bogotá D.C., who were applied the EAT-26 Test. Those with scores greater than 20 were classified as having symptoms of risk of ED, and parents were summoned to receive prevention education on this matter. Results: 979 students were surveyed: 523 were boys and 456, girls, a 9.4% prevalence of ED risk was found. Male students of the lower grades had a higher risk of suffering from eating disorders; predominance was observed in the female sex as the grade level increased. Conclusion: Men are more likely to develop risk symptoms for eating disorders, especially at early ages. Designing strategies to prevent the onset of this disorder in the school population is recommended.
Resumen Introducción. Se estima que los trastornos alimentarios afectan el 1-4% de la población general. En Colombia son escasos los estudios al respecto, sin embargo en Bogotá D.C. se ha encontrado que el porcentaje de mujeres con anorexia es similar al que existe a nivel mundial. Objetivo. Identificar el riesgo para el padecimiento de trastornos de conducta alimentaria (TCA) en estudiantes de sexto a octavo grado de un colegio privado de Bogotá D.C. Materiales y métodos. Estudio cuantitativo transversal cuya muestra estuvo constituida por los estudiantes de grado sexto a octavo de un colegio en Bogotá D.C., a quienes se les aplicó el Test EAT-26. Se consideró que quienes obtuvieron puntaje >20 presentaban síntomas de riesgo de TCA, por lo que sus padres recibieron intervención educativa de prevención. Resultados. Se encuestaron 979 estudiantes: 523 niños y 456 niñas, hallando una prevalencia de síntomas de riesgo de TCA de 9.4%. Los estudiantes de sexo masculino de los grados inferiores presentaron mayor riesgo de padecer TCA; se observó predominio en el sexo femenino a medida que aumentó el grado escolar. Conclusión. Los varones tienen mayor tendencia a presentar síntomas de riesgo para padecer TCA, en especial en edades tempranas. Se recomienda diseñar estrategias para prevenir la aparición de este trastorno en la población escolar.