Search

Objective: To examine the prevalence of inappropriate eating behaviors and associated factors among pregnant women in primary care., Method: The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire was used to assess eating disorders and the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders was used to examine anxiety and depressive symptoms. Body mass index (BMI) and pregestational weight were also assessed., Results: Prevalence of binge eating during pregnancy was 17.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 14.5-20.0], followed by excessive shape (5.6%; 95% CI 4-8) and weight concerns (5.5%; 95% CI 4-8). Binge eating during pregnancy was significantly associated with binge eating before pregnancy [prevalence ratio (PR) = 3.1; 95% CI 2.2-4.3], current anxiety symptoms (PR = 1.8; 95% CI 1.3-2.4), and prepregnancy BMI < 19.8 kg/m(2) (PR = 1.6; 95% CI 1.1-2.5). The prevalence of eating disorders was 0.6% (95% CI 0.01-1.11)., Discussion: Eating disorder symptoms should be routinely assessed and treated during prenatal care, along with other comorbid psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety.

Objective: To investigate whether abnormal eating behaviors in young women could predict eating disorders after 4 years., Method: 56 women were identified as presenting abnormal eating behaviors in a cross-sectional study (Eating Attitudes Test-26 and Edinburgh Bulimic Investigation Test). They were matched for age and neighborhood to two controls (n = 112). Four years later, they were re-assessed with the two screening questionnaires plus the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 2.1)., Results: Women with abnormal eating behaviors at baseline showed a high probability of presenting abnormal eating behaviors but it was not associated with eating disorders 4 years later. They were also at higher risk for obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and specific phobia., Discussion: Abnormal eating behaviors were related to the maintenance of the disturbed behavior over the years, and were associated with increased probability for psychiatric diagnoses.

In a cross-sectional study conducted four years ago to assess the validity of the Brazilian version of the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) for the identification of abnormal eating behaviors in a population of young females in Southern Brazil, 56 women presented abnormal eating behavior as indicated by the EAT-26 and the Edinburgh Bulimic Investigation Test. They were each matched for age and neighborhood to two normal controls (N = 112) and were re-assessed four years later with the two screening questionnaires plus the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). The EAT results were then compared to diagnoses originating from the CIDI. To evaluate the temporal stability of the two screening questionnaires, a test-retest design was applied to estimate kappa coefficients for individual items. Given the prevalence of eating disorders of 6.2%, the CIDI psychiatry interview was applied to 161 women. Of these, 0.6% exhibited anorexia nervosa and 5.6%, bulimia nervosa (10 positive cases). The validity coefficients of the EAT were: 40% sensitivity, 84% specificity, and 14% positive predictive value. Cronbach's coefficient was 0.75. For each EAT item, the kappa index was not higher than 0.344 and the correlation coefficient was lower than 0.488. We conclude that the EAT-26 exhibited low validity coefficients for sensitivity and positive predictive value, and showed a poor temporal stability. It is reasonable to assume that these results were not influenced by the low prevalence of eating disorders in the community. Thus, the results cast doubts on the ability of the EAT-26 test to identify cases of abnormal eating behaviors in this population.

Objective: The aim of this epidemiological investigation was to study the prevalence of abnormal eating behaviours in a community sample of young women from Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil., Methods: The research team visited 1524 randomly selected households in Porto Alegre and invited all of the women aged 12-29 years to participate in the study: 513 women subsequently completed a socio-economic and demographic questionnaire, the Bulimic Investigatory Test (BITE) and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26)., Results: Clinically significant disturbed eating behaviour was revealed in the 16.5% of women who had EAT scores above the cut-off point of 21; 2.9% also had BITE symptom scores of > or = 20. The participants were categorised into three groups on the basis of a new variable combining both instruments: those with abnormal eating behaviours (10.9%), those with unusual eating patterns (23.8%), and those with normal eating behaviours (60.2%). Abnormal eating behaviours were significantly more prevalent in the 16-19 year age range (p = 0.007) and were also more prevalent among overweight/obese women (p = 0.009). Laxative use was reported by 8.5% of the women, followed by fasting (3.1%), use of diuretics (2.8%) and vomiting (1.4%)., Conclusions: Abnormal eating behaviours are fairly common among young women in Brazil. In comparison with other population studies, this survey showed a similar use of laxatives, less self-induced vomiting and a greater use of diet pills (probably because they are less strictly controlled in Brazil). Educational programmes aimed at preventing abnormal eating behaviours and developing healthy weight control practices among children and young adolescents should become public health priorities.