Population at risk for eating disorders in a Spanish region.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of adolescent population at risk for eating disorders (EDs), to examine gender differences and their association with non-psychotic mental disorders.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study using an anonymous, self-reported questionnaire in the classroom and measurement of weight and height in a representative sample of 4334 teenagers of both sexes. A definition of population at risk for EDs has been established, that differentiates those with dieting criteria and those with binge-purge eating behaviour criteria. This definition includes a combination of weight, behaviour, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria, and Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) results. The General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) was used to assess non-psychotic mental disorders.


RESULTS
The prevalence of population at risk for EDs was 2.2% (95% CI: 1.6-2.8) for men and 15.3% (95% CI: 13.8-16.9) for women. The prevalence rate of combining both ED risk and mental disorder was 0.8% (95% CI: 0.4-1.2) for men and 9.9% (95% CI: 8.6-11.2) for women. Non-psychotic mental disorders were more prevalent in the population at risk for EDs than in the rest of the population.


CONCLUSIONS
A considerable proportion of adolescent females have eating problems and non-psychotic mental disorders. Their male counterparts also suffer from these disorders, however, a different pattern is followed.
Gandarillas
A
A
Epidemiology Department, Public Health Institute of the Region of Madrid, Madrid, Spain. ana.gandarillas@madrid.org
Febrel
C
C
Galán
I
I
León
C
C
Zorrilla
B
B
Bueno
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D002032:Bulimia / Q000208:ethnology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires