Abnormal eating behaviour and eating disorders in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: causes and frequency
- 15.04.2013
- English Articles
- Christina Bächle
- Anna Stahl-Pehe
- Joachim Rosenbauer
Peer-reviewed | Manuscript received: January 23, 2013 | Revision accepted: March 18, 2013
Introduction
Abnormal eating behaviour and eating disorders in the general population
Symptoms of eating disorders occur widely in children and adolescents in Germany. In the basic section of the Survey on the Health of Children and Adolescents (KiGGS, 2003–2006; representative for Germany), one fifth of children and adolescents aged between 11 and 17 years exhibited an eating disorder according to the SCOFF questionnaire [1] (Table 1), which is a screening instrument for the identification of the symptoms of eating disorders [2–4]. If at least 2 of the 5 questions are affirmed (with a “yes”) an eating disorder is suspected and this must be clarified by medical investigations and qualified psychological and psychiatric diagnostic testing.
In the KiGGS, 28.9 % of the girls and 15.2 % of the boys answered 2 or more of the questions in the SCOFF questionnaire positively. The prevalence of manifested eating disorders is much less than that of abnormal eating behaviour. In a current estimate, it is assumed that c. 0.4 % of women aged between 15 and 35 years are affected by anorexia nervosa [5]. The prevalence of bulimia nervosa is just over 1 %, for binge eating disorder (eating disorder with binging) c. 1.6 % and for atypical eating disorders (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified [EDNOS]) at 2–14 %. Men are much more rarely affected than women.
Summary
It is not yet clear from current study results whether patients with type 1 diabetes are at increased risk of eating disorders. Possible causes for impaired eating behaviour in type 1 diabetes might include specific nutritional requirements and an increase in weight caused by insulin, leading to body dissatisfaction. The care and teaching of young patients with type 1 diabetes should concentrate on the primary and secondary prevention of impaired eating behaviour.
Keywords: Type 1 diabetes mellitus, eating behaviour, eating disorders, children and adolescents
