Eating behavior, non-food substance consumption and negative urgency in women / Comportamento alimentar, consumo de substâncias não alimentares e urgência negativa em mulheres

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate aspects of eating behavior, presence of non-food substance consumption and negative urgency in women from an on-line support group for eating disorders. Methods Participants (n=147) completed questionnaires for binge eating assessment, Intuitive Eating, negative urgency, cognitive restraint and a question of non-food substance consumption. Participants were separated according to criteria for bulimic symptoms and compulsive symptoms. Results The consumption of non-food substances was 4.8% (n=7). The Bulimic Group (n=61) showed higher values for binge eating (p=0.01), cognitive restraint (p=0.01) and negative urgency (p=0.01) compared with the Compulsive Group (n=86). Only the Compulsive Group showed an inverse correlation between scores for binge eating and Intuitive Eating (p=0.01). In both groups, binge eating was inversely correlated with the subscale of body-food choice congruence of Intuitive Eating scale. As expected, the Bulimic Group reached higher values for measures of disordered behaviors such as cognitive restraint and binge eating, and lower scores for Intuitive Eating. Conclusion The aspects of Intuitive Eating are inversely associated with compulsive and bulimic symptoms and the correlation analyses for binge eating and negative urgency agreed with models reported in published literature about negative urgency.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar aspectos do comportamento alimentar, presença do consumo de substâncias não alimentares e urgência negativa em mulheres de um grupo de apoio para transtornos alimentares. Métodos As participantes (n=147) preencheram instrumentos para avaliação de compulsão alimentar, Comer Intuitivo, urgência negativa, restrição cognitiva e uma questão para consumo de substâncias não alimentares. Elas foram divididas de acordo com critérios para sintomas bulímicos e sintomas compulsivos. Resultados O consumo de substâncias não alimentares foi de 4,8% (n=7). O Grupo Bulímico (n=61) apresentou maiores valores para compulsão alimentar (p=0,01), restrição cognitiva (p=0,01), e urgência negativa (p=0,01) em relação ao Grupo Compulsivo (n=86). Apenas o Grupo Compulsivo demonstrou correlação inversa entre escores para compulsão alimentar e Comer Intuitivo (p=0,01). Para ambos os grupos, a compulsão alimentar foi inversamente correlacionada com a subescala de escolhas alimentares realizadas em congruência com o estado do corpo do Comer Intuitivo. Como esperado, o Grupo Bulímico apresentou maiores valores para medidas de comportamentos disfuncionais como restrição e compulsão alimentar, e menores escores para Comer Intuitivo. Conclusão Os aspectos do Comer Intuitivo estiveram inversamente associados com os sintomas compulsivos e bulímicos, e os resultados das análises de correlação para Escala de Compulsão Alimentar e urgência negativa concordam com modelos da literatura sobre o envolvimento da urgência negativa.

Fatores nutricionais e psicológicos associados com a ocorrência de picamalácia em gestantes / Nutritional and psychological factors associated with the occurrence of pica in pregnant women

Resumo OBJETIVO: Avaliar fatores nutricionais e psicológicos associados com a ocorrência da prática da picamalácia em gestantes atendidas em maternidade pública do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo, de caráter exploratório, realizado com 13 gestantes (idades entre 16 e 40 anos) com diagnóstico de picamalácia na gestação atual identificada em entrevista padronizada na consulta com nutricionista que abordava questões sobre ocorrência e frequência do transtorno, além dos tipos de substâncias ingeridas. Após assinarem o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido (TCLE), todas as gestantes passaram por avaliação nutricional e, posteriormente, sete foram submetidas à avaliação psicológica com instrumentos padronizados para medida de ansiedade e estresse, além da avaliação de estratégias de enfrentamento (coping ) diante de estressores. RESULTADOS: As práticas de picamalácia mais referidas foram pagofagia (30,8%) e fruta com sal (30,8%). Observou-se ocorrência de algum grau de estresse e ansiedade em todas as gestantes com picamalácia, assim como alguma comorbidade (69,2%) e sintomatologia digestiva (84,6%). As estratégias decoping mais prevalentes foram "focada em práticas religiosas/pensamento fantasioso" e "busca de suporte social", ambas com 42%. CONCLUSÃO: Considerando que a picamalácia pode associar-se com maior risco perinatal, é fundamental que essa prática seja investigada durante o atendimento pré-natal e que ocorra a adoção de práticas preventivas obstétricas, psicológicas e nutricionais para reduzir complicações para a mãe e o concepto.

Abstract PURPOSE: To evaluate the nutritional and psychological factors associated with the occurrence of the practice of pica in pregnant women attending a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: The study was based on a descriptive design with exploratory features, and conducted on 13 adult and adolescent pregnant women aged 16 to 40 years with a diagnosis of pica in the current pregnancy. Pica was diagnosed by a nutritionist in a standardized interview situation, when questions about the occurrence and frequency of pica, and types of substance ingestion were investigated. After signing the Informed Consent Form (ICF), all participants were evaluated by a nutritionist and seven of them were submitted to psychological assessment with standardized instruments to evaluate stress and anxiety, and to assess coping strategies. RESULTS: The type of pica most frequently reported was pagophagia (30.8%) and the consumption of fruit with salt (30.8%). The most prevalent coping strategies were "religious practice-focused" and "seeking social support", both presented by 42% of the pregnant women. We observed the occurrence of some degree of stress and anxiety in all pregnant women, as well as comorbidities (69.2%) and gastrointestinal symptoms (84.6%). CONCLUSION: Considering that pica may be associated with increased perinatal risk, it is very important to investigate this disorder during prenatal care, and to dopt obstetric, psychological and nutritional preventive practices to reduce the complications for mother and fetus.

Childhood pica; some aspects of the clinical profile in Manchester, Jamaica

The clinical profile of 108 children aged 1 1/2 years to 10 years who practised pica was compared to that of 50 non-pica patients aged 2 years to 10 years. Of the patients with pica, 85% were less than 5 years of age and 29% were aged 1 1/2 years to 2 years. The male to female ratio was 1:1.4. Ninety-two patients ingested dirt, 35 marl, 33 stone, 17 coal and 10 ashes. Twenty-two patients ingested multiple substances. Family history for pica was positive in 44 patients. Forty-six per cent of pica patients and 12% control patients had poor nutritional status (p < 0.05). Ten per cent of pica patients were constipated while 26% had persistent diarrhoea. Intestinal parasites were identified in 70.3% of cases and were distributed as follows: Trichuris species 66%, Ascaris lumbricoides 26.6%, Giardia lamblia 17%, and mixed infestations 28.8%. Initial haemoglobin values were less than 8 gm/dl in 34.8% and 11 gm/dl or greater in 20.9% of pica patients compared with 12% and 56%, respectively, in control patients (p < 0.05) It is concluded that, in our country, the children who practise pica are prone to malnutrition, anaemia, diarrhoeal/constipation and worm infestation. Geophagia is most frequently involved and there is often a family history of pica