Body image, eating distress and emotional-behavioral difficulties among adolescents in Mbarara, Southwestern Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents frequently have emotional and behavioral difficulties as they struggle with the challenges of transition from childhood to adulthood. Many struggle with issues of body image and eating distress as they deal with the difficult and frequently perplexing changes that occur with puberty. Yet there is surprisingly little research on the emotional and behavioral challenges, as well as body image and eating distress among this sizable population in Uganda. This study sought to assess attitudes and behaviors related to body image and eating distress, as well as emotional and behavioral difficulties among adolescents in Mbarara, Southwestern Uganda. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study among 788 adolescents aged 13 to 19 years in secondary schools in Mbarara city and Mbarara district in south-western Uganda. The study employed the Body Image and Eating Distress scale to assess attitudes and behaviors about dieting and body shape and the extended version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to assess for perceived emotional and behavioral difficulties. Logistic regression was used to identify the association between body image and eating distress and perceived difficulties. RESULTS: The prevalence of high body image and eating distress was 10.8% while that of perceived emotional and behavioral difficulties was 45.8%. Some of the adolescents (16.1%) were dissatisfied with their body shape, 24.6% exercised a lot to avoid gaining weight, 15.0% were terrified to gain even a little weight, and 12.1% could not control their eating. More males reported eating large amounts of food at one time (p = < 0.001). Having emotional and behavioral difficulties (aOR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.18 - 3.02; p = 0.019) and coming from a two-parent household (aOR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.10 - 2.92; p = 0.019) increased the odds of high body image and eating distress. CONCLUSION: High levels of body image and eating distress are linked to behavioral and emotional problems and adolescent's family structure. Clinicians who treat adolescents should use a holistic care strategy and be aware of the high prevalence and close association between emotional and behavioral difficulties, concerns about weight, and dieting. It is important to encourage parental involvement and support in providing information about mental health issues among adolescents.

Eating Disorder Risks Associated with Time Spent Using Social Media at an AMREC Population in the Coal Mining Region of Santa Catarina.

Comparing one's appearance to other people's and believing in an ideal body shape can negatively impact an individual. The probability of developing ED in individuals with high body dissatisfaction is higher than in the general population, leading to long-term emotional and metabolic damage. Populational studies on the prevalence of ED in Brazil are scarce in the literature. The research was carried out through the Google Forms website and evaluated risk of eating disorders through the Eating Attitude Test, degree of body dissatisfaction in the sample through the Body Shape Questionnaire and the Internet Addiction Test was used to evaluate time spent on the internet. The results showed that 84.5% of the sample were female and 62.3% of the individuals had eutrophic by the Body Mass Index. About 40.2% of the population studied had abnormal attitudes towards food, indicating a possible risk of developing ED, and 62.5% of the sample did not show body dissatisfaction. Regarding internet use, 10.8% had problematic internet use. The presence of risky eating attitudes was more prevalent in participants dissatisfied with their bodies. In addition, participants with problematic internet use had a higher risk for EDs.

Eating attitudes of migraine patients in Turkey: a prospective multi-center study.

BACKGROUND: Migraine is a disease characterized by headache attacks. The disease is multifactorial in etiology and genetic and environmental factors play role in pathogenesis. Migraine can also be accompanied by psychiatric disorders like neurotism and obsessive compulsive disorder. Stress, hormonal changes and certain food intake can trigger attacks in migraine. Previous studies showed that eating attitudes and disorders are prevalant in patients with migraine. Eating disorders are psychiatric disorders related to abnormal eating habits. Both migraine and eating disorders are common in young women and personality profiles of these patient groups are also similar. A possible relationship which shows that migraine and eating habits are related can lead to a better understanding of disease pathogenesis and subsequently new therapeutic options on both entities. Association of migraine in relation to severity, depression and anxiety and eating habits and disorders were aimed to be investigated in this study. METHODS: The study was designed as a prospective, multi-center, case control study. Twenty-one centers from Turkey was involved in the study. The gathered data was collected and evaluated at a single designated center. From a pool of 1200 migraine patients and 958 healthy control group, two groups as patient group and study group was created with PS matching method in relation to age, body-mass index, marital status and employment status. Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were applied to both study groups. The data gathered was compared between two groups. RESULTS: EAT-26 scores and the requirement for referral to a psychiatrist due to symptoms related to eating disorder were both statistically significantly higher in patient group compared to control group (p = 0.034 and p = 0.0001 respectively). Patients with migraine had higher scores in both BDI and BAI compared to control group (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0001 respectively). Severity of pain or frequency of attacks were not found to be related to eating attitudes (r:0.09, p = 0.055). CONCLUSIONS: Migraine patients were found to have higher EAT-26, BDI and BAI scores along with a higher rate of referral to a psychiatrist due to symptoms. Results of the study showed that eating habits are altered in migraine patients with higher risk of eating disorders. Depression and anxiety are also found to be common amongst migraine patients.

Comparison between Physical Activity and Stress-Related Lifestyle between Orthorexic and Non-Orthorexic University Students: A Case-Control Study.

(1) Background: The literature regarding orthorexia nervosa (ON) has well documented the association with other mental disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive and eating disorders. However, the research has not taken into account stress-related behavior and the conduction of physical activity (PA), both structured and unstructured. (2) Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 165 students of the University of Parma (92 females and 74 males) aged between 18 and 49 years old (mean = 24.62 ± 4.81) were consecutively recruited. The ORTO-15 questionnaire was used to divide the total sample into a group without orthorexia (score > 40) and a group with orthorexia (score < 40). All subjects completed the P Stress Questionnaire, and specific items were extrapolated from the Eating Habits Structured Interview (EHSI) to investigate lifestyle, including structured and unstructured PA. (3) Results: Subjects with orthorexia represented 83% of the total sample and reported higher levels of stress-related risk behaviors (i.e., sense of responsibility (t = -1.99, p = 0.02), precision (t = -1.99, p = 0.03), stress disorders (t = -1.38, p = 0.05), reduced spare time (t = -1.97, p = 0.03), and hyperactivity (t = -1.68, p = 0.04)) and a higher frequency of PA (i.e., hours spent training in structured PA, daily (t = -1.68, p = 0.05), weekly (t = -1.91, p = 0.03), and monthly (t = -1.91, p = 0.03), the tendency to carry out physical exercise even if tired (t = -1.97, p = 0.02), and to adhere to unstructured PA (i.e., moving on foot or by bike rather than using transport (t = 1.27, p = 0.04)). (4) Conclusions: The results confirmed the presence of hyperactivity at a motor and behavioral level in people with orthorexia. Further studies are necessary to highlight the causality between ON, stress, and physical activity but it may be possible to hypothesize that "obsessive" physical exercise may not generate the benefits generally known by the literature.

A Scoping Review of the Prevalence of Eating Disorders in Spain.

INTRODUCTION: Eating disorders (EDs) are mental health illnesses with a multifactorial origin. At present, no review of indexed publications studying their prevalence in Spain is available. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A scoping review (PROSPERO -CRD42019140884-) was carried out through systematic searches (MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO) until January 2022. Papers published in Spanish/English analysing the prevalence of EDs in Spain (population < 65 years) were selected. RESULTS: A total of 766 articles were identified (186 eliminated as duplicates). A total of 580 articles were analysed on the basis of title and abstract, and 67 articles were selected for full-text analysis. A total of 37 studies analysed the prevalence of EDs in Spain. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first scoping review to analyse the prevalence of EDs in Spain. Puberty and adolescence are the most extensively studied stages. There is a high heterogeneity in the use of ED screening tools and a paucity of information on diagnostic tools.

Changing cannabis legislation in Canada and a longitudinal look at "regular" cannabis use in patients with eating disorders.

Regular cannabis use (CU), defined as "weekly or more often", is associated with a number of negative mental health outcomes. In the last decade, Canada legalized first medical and then recreational CU. Despite higher prevalence in mental health populations, little research has documented changes in frequency of CU with progressive legalization of cannabis. This study examined rates of CU in a sample of 843 treatment-seeking patients with eating disorders (ED) in an outpatient setting between 2004 and 2020. Across ED diagnoses, segmented regression indicated a significant break-point in regular CU in 2014, commensurate with the relaxation of medical cannabis laws. Regular CU increased from 4.9 % to 23.7 % from 2014 to 2020; well above the stable 6 % found in the general population. No significant break-point was observed in either alcohol or illicit substance use over the same time period. Significant increases in regular CU were found in patients with anorexia nervosa and binge eating disorder, while regular use remained stable in patients with bulimia nervosa. Comorbid psychiatric diagnoses did not increase odds of regular CU. Findings suggest certain patient groups with mental illness may be at risk of engaging in high frequency use in the context of legislation implying medical benefits of cannabis.

Diagnosed eating disorders in Danish registers - incidence, prevalence, mortality, and polygenic risk.

Eating disorders are a group of severe and potentially enduring psychiatric disorders associated with increased mortality. Compared to other severe mental illnesses, they have received relatively limited research attention. Epidemiological studies often only report relative measures despite these being difficult to interpret having limited practical use. The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence and prevalence of diagnosed anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa, and eating disorder not otherwise specified recorded in Danish hospital registers and estimate both relative and absolute measures of subsequent mortality - both all-cause and cause-specific in a general nationwide population of 1,667,374 individuals. In a smaller, genetically informed case-cohort sample, the prediction of polygenic scores for AN, body fat percentage, and body mass index on AN prevalence and severity was estimated. Despite males being less likely to be diagnosed with an eating disorder, those that do have significantly increased rates of mortality. AN prevalence was highest for individuals with high AN and low body fat percentage/body mass index polygenic scores.

Association Between Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Eating Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous meta-analyses have shown mixed results regarding the association between eating disorders (EDs) and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Our paper aimed to analyse different EDs and disordered eating behaviours that may be practiced by patients with T1DM. METHODS: A literature search of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science was conducted on 17 January 2023, using the key terms "T1DM," "Eating Disorders" and "Bulimia." Only observational controlled studies were included. The Revman software (version 5.4) was used for the analysis. RESULTS: T1DM was associated with increased risk of ED compared with nondiabetic individuals (RR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.84-3.32, p-value < 0.00001), especially bulimia nervosa (RR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.18-6.65, p-value = 0.02) and binge eating (RR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.18-1.98, p-value = 0.001). Our analysis has shown that increased risk of ED among T1DM persisted regardless of the questionnaire used to diagnose ED; DM-validated questionnaires (RR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.91-4.12, p-value < 0.00001) and generic questionnaires (RR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.27-3.23, p-value = 0.003). Prevalence of insulin omission/misuse was 10.3%; diabetic females demonstrated a significantly higher risk of insulin omission and insulin misuse than diabetic males. CONCLUSION: Our study establishes a significant and clear connection between EDs and T1DM, particularly bulimia and binge eating, with T1DM. Moreover, female diabetics are at higher risk of insulin misuse/omission. Early proactive screening is essential and tailored; comprehensive interventions combining diabetes and ED components are recommended for this population, with referral to a specialised psychiatrist.

Prevalence of Orthorexia Nervosa in a sample of italian young adults.

Abstract: There is only limited epidemiological information on Orthorexia Nervosa; the aim of the present study is, therefore, to assess the prevalence of ON in a population of young adults and to identify possible specific features and eventual psychopatological dimensions. 1317 participants (732 females and 585 males; mean age 22.36 yrs) completed a battery containing the orthorexia measure (ORTHO-15), statements about demographic characteristics as well as physiological parameters. The mean ORTO-15 score was 31.89; considering the cut-off of 40 in the reference test, our results showed a 11.9% prevalence of ON. Analyzing the characteristics of the orthorexic group, the prevalence in females compared to males appears to be statistically very significant (115 vs 43; 72.8% vs 27.2%); moreover shows higher and statistically significant scores in each of the 15 items of the reference test compared to the non-orthorexic group. Our data confirming that ON might be a relevant and potentially underestimate phenomenon in the community. Further studies are warranted in order to explore the diagnostic boundaries of this syndrome, its course and outcome, and the possible therapeutic strategies.

Orthorexia Nervosa and Healthy Orthorexia in a Physically Active North American Population.

The Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS) defines two related but distinct constructs: Orthorexia Nervosa (OrNe), a pathological fixation on a healthy diet, and Healthy Orthorexia (HeOr), an interest in a healthy diet independent of psychopathology. Here, we (a) assessed both types of Orthorexia in a large North American sample using the TOS and (b) explored if engaging in regular physical activity was associated with a greater risk of Orthorexia. A cohort of physically active adults (n = 927; 41% men) completed the TOS, as well as the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA), to broadly assess aerobic physical activity level and participation in strength and/or flexibility training. As expected, scores for HeOr and OrNe differed between participants, with lower scores for Orthorexia Nervosa in our physically active non-clinical sample. Higher HeOr scores were associated with lower BMI, and this was true for both men and women. We also found that measures of Orthorexia were associated with self-reported physical activity: active adults reporting more aerobic physical activity had higher HeOr scores, with the most active men having the highest scores. Notably, adults who reported regular strength training had higher scores for both HeOr and OrNe, with men who strength trained showing higher OrNe scores than women. Here, those who participate in regular strength training are more likely to exhibit orthorexic behaviors, and this effect was more pronounced for men than women. Prior work has validated the TOS in young, primarily female samples of non-English speakers outside the United States: present data from an age-diverse, physically active, gender balanced sample support the use of TOS for measurement of Orthorexia Nervosa and Healthy Orthorexia in English speakers and suggest that more work is needed to assess potential gender differences in these constructs.

Prevalence of suicide attempt, suicide ideation and self-harm at diagnosis in adolescents with eating disorders.

BACKGROUND: Data concerning the suicide prevalence of eating disorder (ED) subtypes and predictive factors are lacking in youth. This study aimed to examine suicide attempts (SA), suicide ideation (SI) and self-harm (SH) upon diagnosis in adolescents with EDs. METHODS: The prevalence of SA, SI and SH in ED subtypes was evaluated by retrospectively assessing the Home, Education/Employment, Eating, Activities, Drugs, Sexuality, Suicidal ideation and Safety (HEEADSSS) instrument of adolescents diagnosed with an ED. Clinical predictors of SI in anorexia nervosa (AN) and atypical AN (AAN) were assessed. RESULTS: Among all participants (398), 41 (10.3%) reported SA, 126 (31.7%) SI and 60 (15.1%) SH. While SA did not differ statistically between ED subgroups (p = .123), they were two times more prevalent in the bulimia nervosa (BN) group (17.5%) than in the AN group (8.5%). In the BN group, SI was 2.3 times more prevalent than in the AN group (p = .001). The AN and ARFID groups exhibited substantially less SH (p = .036). Having a higher body mass index (BMI) was the only significant predictor of SI. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that adolescents with EDs are at an increased risk for suicidality, highlighting the need for close screening, particularly in those with BN, AN-BP and AN with a higher BMI.

Adolescents with eating disorders have higher rates of suicidality than the general population.Bulimia nervosa had the highest risk for a suicide attempt, suicide ideation and self-harm at diagnosis.A higher body mass index (BMI) percentage was associated with an increased risk of suicidality in the anorexia nervosa group.

Perfectionism, disordered eating and well-being in aesthetic sports: The mediating role of passion.

Aesthetic athletes face higher risks of disordered eating, and perfectionism is one of the determinants involved. While research suggests that perfectionism in sport may play a role in physical and psychological well-being, its influence remains to be confirmed. As such, further examination of the influence of perfectionism on health is warranted as it could lead to better interventions. This preregistered research sought to shed new light on these relationships by investigating the mediating role of passion in the perfectionism-disordered eating relationship as well as physical and psychological well-being in aesthetic sports. In Study 1, 229 American recreational and competitive athletes practicing either gymnastics (n = 150) or artistic swimming (n = 79) were recruited on MTurk to complete an online questionnaire. The same recruitment procedure was used for Study 2, with 107 American gymnasts (n = 69) and artistic swimmers (n = 38) completing the questionnaire at two timepoints, one year apart. Results from path analyses showed that socially prescribed perfectionism was associated with obsessive passion, which in turn was associated with disordered eating. Self-oriented perfectionism was associated with both obsessive and harmonious passion, the latter being more adaptative as it was associated with physical and psychological well-being. Thus, the way one engages in aesthetic sports matters, as engaging with obsessive passion may take a toll on one's health and lead to disordered eating. Conversely, fostering harmonious engagement seems to temper the negative associations between perfectionism and health outcomes and promote positive relationships with athlete's well-being, but requires further study.

Determinants of menstrual dysfunction in the female athlete triad: A cross-sectional study in Italian athletes.

BACKGROUND: In 1992 the American College of Sports Medicine first described the Female Athlete Triad. The Triad is a metabolic injury involving three distinct clinical traits: low energy availability, with possible eating disorder, low bone mineral density and menstrual dysfunction (MD). Although the estimated prevalence of the Triad is low (1.2 %), single factors are common in female athletes, at all competitive levels and ages. Even though the Triad was described over two decades ago, the interrelation of the three diagnostics components is still debated: additional evidence is required to improve the multidisciplinary treatment approach for this complex condition. MD is one of the first signs of energy impairment. The present study aims at investigating MD determinants and predictors in female athletes, to allow an early diagnosis of the Triad and to implement adequate preventive strategies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An original structured questionnaire was composed to detect the presence of MD risk factors. Included participants were active female athletes within reproductive age range (15-40 years old). Anthropometric parameters and training-related factors, possibly affecting the regularity of the menstrual cycle, were investigated. RESULTS: Respondents were 288 female athletes. Among them, 73.3 % were under 25 years of age; 6.6 % resulted underweight; 30.6 % reported to follow a meal plan/diet and 13.9 % declared to be a smoker. Lean sports were practiced by 30.6 % of responders. Body-weight congruence was detected in in 79.9 % of participants, whereas overestimation of body image was found in 16.3 % of athletes. Irregular menstrual cycle, a possible MD predictor, was present in 33.0 % of athletes, with 41.1 % practicing some lean sport (p = 0.007). Also, overestimation of body image suggested an increased risk of menstrual irregularity (p = 0.001). BMI <18.5 or BMI >30 could also act as risk factor, although significance was not fully obtained (p = 0.053). Overall, practice of lean sports and overestimation of body image appeared good determinants of increased menstrual irregularity (AOR 2.02 and 3.83, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Menstrual irregularity in female athletes can be considered an early predictor of MD: risk is further increased in athletes of lean sports and reporting an overestimation of self-perceived body image. Screenings and awareness programs should specifically address female athletes, because of their vulnerable-group profile. In order to define a standardized at-risk profile for Triad onset and sequelae likelihood, evaluation of menstrual regularity should especially be considered, in conjunction with the assessment of other indicators of energy availability (e.g. TEE, lean and fat mass, BMC). Testing for sport-derived stress and disordered eating attitudes is also recommended. Preventive strategy should involve the proactive engagement of sport clubs and periodic competitive sport medical assessment.

Risk of eating disorders in Mexican university students.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the distribution of the risk of developing an eating disorder, other psychological variables, body mass index (BMI) and physical activity in Mexican university students. The second aim was to determine the association between the risk of developing an eating disorder and all variables by sex. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was carried out. SETTING: The Health Sciences Institute and the Agricultural Sciences Institute within the Autonomous University of Hidalgo State, Mexico. PARTICIPANTS: 395 university students (65 % women) aged 18 to 29. ANALYSIS: Descriptive, correlational and binary regression model. RESULTS: The risk of developing an eating disorder (moderate and high) was 37.3 % for women and 32.6 % for men. A logistic regression analysis of women showed that thin-ideal internalization (12.9 times), BMI (3.5 times) and inactivity (2.6 times) increased the risk of developing an eating disorder. In men, the drive for muscularity (7.5 times) and BMI (2.3 times) increased the risk. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The variables associated with the risk of developing an eating disorder differed by sex, except for BMI, which increased the risk in both sexes. Findings should be considered in the design of future interventions to prevent the risk of eating disorders and associated factors.

Celiac Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Are Associated With Increased Risk of Eating Disorders: An Ontario Health Administrative Database Study.

INTRODUCTION: Previous national registry studies have reported an increased risk of eating disorders in immune-mediated conditions (inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease). Our objective was to examine the association between immune-mediated gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and incident eating disorders in Ontario. METHODS: This was a retrospective matched cohort study of individuals <50 years of age with a diagnosis of an immune-mediated GI disease between 2002 and 2020 ("cases"). Those with a pre-existing eating disorder were excluded. Cases (n = 83,920) were matched with controls (n = 167,776) based on birth year, sex, and region of residence. Incidence rate ratio and hazard ratio were estimated using Poisson regression model and adjusted Cox proportional models, respectively. RESULTS: Over the follow-up period (up to January 31, 2022), 161 cases and 160 controls were identified with eating disorders. The overall incidence rate ratio (95% confidence interval, P -value) of eating disorders in immune-mediated GI disease was 1.99 (1.6-2.5, P < 0.001). The adjusted hazard ratio for eating disorder in cases with immune-mediated GI diseases was 1.98 (1.6-2.5, P < 0.001). In the pediatric group of incident cases (≤18 years of age), overall adjusted hazard ratio was 2.62 (1.9-3.7, P < 0.001) compared with 1.56 (1.02-2.4, P = 0.041) for adults (>18 years of age). The largest hazard ratio of 4.11 (1.6-10.3, P = 0.003) was observed for pediatric incident cases of ulcerative colitis. DISCUSSION: Inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease are associated with the development of eating disorders. The magnitude of the association was stronger in the pediatric age group, underscoring the need for early screening and detection.

A comprehensive investigation of the association between menopause symptoms and problematic eating behavior in peri- and post-menopause cisgender women.

Midlife individuals assigned female at birth are at risk for problematic eating behavior, associated with negative health outcomes. Little is known about how menopausal symptoms may increase risk in this population. The current study aimed to understand how a comprehensive range of menopause symptoms were globally associated with problematic eating behaviors. A total of 281 cisgender women (176 post-menopause, 105 peri-menopause) from the United States aged 40 to 64 were recruited utilizing Prolific, an online survey platform. Participants answered questionnaires about menopause symptoms and problematic eating. Participants were selected using demographic and health information provided in a screener survey. Participants also completed the Eating Disorder Questionnaire (EDE-Q), Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ), Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Using Structural Equation Modeling, menopause symptoms explained 16.7 percent of the variance in problematic eating. Higher frequency and severity of anxiety, depression, sleep concerns, cognitive complaints, pain, and vasomotor symptoms was associated with greater frequency and severity of problematic eating behaviors, ß = .40, p < .001. Invariance testing showed no significant differences between peri- and postmenopausal women. These findings support the association between menopause symptoms and problematic eating in Midlife cisgender women and highlight the need for continued investigation.

Family Meals and Social Eating Behavior and Their Association with Disordered Eating among Spanish Adolescents: The EHDLA Study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the association of family meals and social eating behavior with disordered eating behavior in Spanish adolescents. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study that included 706 adolescents (43.9% boys) from the Eating Habits and Daily Life Activities (EHDLA) study (aged 12 to 17) from Valle de Ricote, Region of Murcia, Spain. The frequency of family meals was assessed by asking participants to report how often their family, or most household members, had shared meals in the past week. Social eating behavior was evaluated using three statements: "I enjoy sitting down with family or friends for a meal", "Having at least one meal a day with others (family or friends) is important to me", and "I usually have dinner with others". To evaluate disordered eating, two psychologists administered the Sick, Control, One, Fat and Food (SCOFF) questionnaire. RESULTS: After adjusting for several covariates, for each additional family meal, the likelihood of having disordered eating behavior was lower (odds ratio (OR) = 0.96; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93 to 0.9997, p = 0.049). On the other hand, a lower likelihood of having disordered eating behavior was observed for each additional point in the social eating behavior scale (OR = 0.85; 95% CI 0.77 to 0.93, p = 0.001). The likelihood of having disordered eating behavior was 0.7% lower for each additional family meal (95% CI 0.01% to 1.4%, p = 0.046). Furthermore, for each additional point in the social eating behavior scale, a lower probability of having disordered eating behavior was observed (3.2%; 95% CI 1.4% to 5.0%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: While disordered eating behavior is complex and can be shaped by various factors, both family meals and social eating behavior emerge as significant factors inversely associated with this condition among adolescents. Promoting regular engagement in family meals and fostering positive social eating experiences could serve as effective strategies in public health initiatives aimed at mitigating the incidence of disordered eating behavior among the young population.

Eating Disorders Risk Assessment and Body Esteem among Amateur and Professional Football Players.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of eating disorders and attitudes toward one's own body among football players at amateur and professional levels. METHODS: The study included 90 players from football clubs located in the Upper Silesia Metropolitan Area, participating in the 4th and 5th leagues in Poland. A survey questionnaire was used to conduct the study, which consisted of a metric section, an Eating Attitudes Test, and Body Esteem Scale questionnaires. The players were divided into two groups according to their sports level. RESULTS: Results showed that 24.4% of players were overweight, while 75.6% had a normative body weight. Approximately 16.7% met the criteria indicating susceptibility to an eating disorder. Body Esteem Scale interpretations revealed moderate body appraisal among players. CONCLUSIONS: Both amateur and professional athletes showed no significant difference in eating disorder risk, but professionals rated their bodies higher. Social media use, particularly on Twitter and Instagram, is correlated with eating disorders, with longer daily use associated with lower body ratings.

Protective role of family mealtime frequency against disordered eating behaviors: Racial and ethnic differences.

Family mealtimes have been recognized for their positive effect on child and adolescent health outcomes. Frequent family meals have been shown to have protective effects in reducing disordered eating behaviors, but the variability of these effects across different racial and ethnic backgrounds has been less explored. To address the gap, the current study utilizes a sample of 33,417 families with children (ages 6-17) in the United States who participated in the 2022 National Surveys of Children's Health (NSCH). Logistic regressions were conducted to examine the association between family mealtime frequency and the manifestation of disordered eating across youth from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds. Our findings revealed that frequent family mealtimes are associated with a lower risk of engaging in disordered eating behaviors in youth. However, there were disparities in the associations between family mealtime frequency and the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors among children from different racial/ethnic backgrounds. Youth who never participated in family mealtimes were at a greater risk of engaging in disordered eating behaviors among those identifying as non-Hispanic Black or of 'other' racial groups. In youth identifying with multiple races, the frequency of family was not associated with the odds of disordered eating behaviors. The results provide insights into the nuanced influence of family mealtime frequency on disordered eating based on diverse racial/ethnic groups. This highlights the need for future studies to identify factors associated with racial/ethnic identities that may contribute to disordered eating behaviors in youth to identify the unique needs and challenges faced by families in leveraging the protective effect of family mealtimes.

Social networks and risk of eating disorders in Chilean young adults.

Introduction: Introduction: in Western societies, social networks are prominent sources of information and entertainment, widely accessed due to internet availability. While social networks offer health benefits, their impact varies across generations and populations. Concerns arise about their influence on mental health, with potential hindrance to social relationships. Social networks are recognized as contributors to eating disorders, influencing nutritional behaviors and impacting self-perception negatively. For this, the objective of present study was determining the association between the risk of eating disorders (ED) and the use of social networks in young adults in the Araucanía Region of Chile. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on the young adult population. The subjects were recruited online through crucial social networks between November and December 2021. A self-reported online form was administered, asking for sociodemographic variables, social network use, and risk of eating disorders. The EAT-26 was applied for the latter variable. To determine the association between variables, each condition was dichotomized against the presence or absence of ED risk. Results: a total of 370 responses were collected, representing females (62.7 %) primarily from the 20-28 age group (79.5 %) and from the university student group (54.9 %); 12.9 % of the sample were at risk of ED. The variables associated with a higher risk of an eating disorder were being female (p = 0.001), preference for Twitter (p = 0.017), interest in food influencers (p = 0.008), and perceived frequency of advertising (p = 0.007). Conclusion: in this sample, there is an association between the use of social networks and the risk of ED, but this depends mainly on the social network used and exposure/preference of food-related content.

Introducción: Introduction: en las sociedades occidentales, las redes sociales son fuentes destacadas de información y entretenimiento, ampliamente accesibles gracias a la disponibilidad de internet. Aunque ofrecen beneficios para la salud, su impacto varía entre generaciones y poblaciones. Surgen preocupaciones sobre su influencia en la salud mental, con un posible obstáculo para las relaciones sociales. Se reconoce que las redes sociales contribuyen a los trastornos alimentarios, influyendo en los comportamientos nutricionales y afectando negativamente la autopercepción. Por ello, el objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la asociación entre el riesgo de trastornos alimentarios (ED) y el uso de redes sociales en adultos jóvenes en la Región de la Araucanía, Chile. Methods: se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo transversal en la población de adultos jóvenes. Los sujetos fueron reclutados en línea a través de redes sociales clave entre noviembre y diciembre de 2021. Se administró un formulario en línea autoinformado, solicitando variables sociodemográficas, uso de redes sociales y riesgo de trastornos alimentarios. Se aplicó el EAT-26 para esta última variable. Para determinar la asociación entre variables, se dicotomizó cada condición frente a la presencia o ausencia de riesgo de ED. Results: se recopilaron un total de 370 respuestas, principalmente de mujeres (62,7 %) en el grupo de edad de 20-28 años (79,5 %) y de estudiantes universitarios (54,9 %). El 12,9 % de la muestra estaba en riesgo de ED. Las variables asociadas con un mayor riesgo de trastorno alimentario fueron el género femenino (p = 0,001), preferencia por Twitter (p = 0,017), interés en influencers de alimentos (p = 0,008) y percepción de la frecuencia de la publicidad (p = 0,007). Conclusion: en esta muestra, existe una asociación entre el uso de redes sociales y el riesgo de ED, pero esto depende principalmente de la red social utilizada y la exposición/preferencia de contenido relacionado con la alimentación.