title: Nutrition and eating behavior in patients with chronic pain receiving long-term opioid therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess eating behavior and nutrient intake in a group of patients who were diagnosed with chronic pain and received long-term opioid analgesic therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, exploratory study with a convenience sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  An outpatient pain rehabilitation center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients diagnosed with chronic pain who received long-term opioid analgesic therapy (N = 50).
  
  
  METHODS
  Body mass index, the Food Frequency Questionnaire developed by the Nutrition Assessment Shared Resource of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and the Eating Behavior Inventory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 50 participants, 14 (28%) and 22 (44%) were found to be overweight and obese, respectively. Mean (±SD) daily caloric intake (kcal) was 2008.5 ± 926.0 among men and 1694.8 ± 672.4 among women. Daily mean (±SD) consumption of fruit and vegetable servings, calculated with the summation method, was found to be 1.8 ± 1.1 and 1.9 ± 1.5, respectively. Our patient sample showed the following mean (±SD) daily intake of the following substances: added sugars (g), 74.4 ± 43.0; fiber (g), 17.3 ± 7.5; cholesterol (mg), 266.5 ± 234; saturated fat (g), 25.8 ± 16.8; omega-3 fatty acids (g), 1.6 ± 0.99; trans-fatty acids (g), 2.7 ± 1.7; sodium (mg), 2868.5 ± 1388.1; caffeine (mg), 199.9 ± 160.8; alcohol (g), 1.6 ± 0.5; vitamin D (IU), 244 ± 208; and calcium (mg), 1111.7 ± 672.1. The mean (±SD) score as calculated by the Eating Behavior Inventory was 74.9 ± 9.1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity, deficient nutrient intake, and poor eating behavior were highly prevalent in our sample of patients with chronic pain who underwent long-term opioid therapy. Larger prospective studies are necessary to assess the eating behavior of patients with chronic pain who are treated with or without opioid analgesics.
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston; and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, 101 Main St, Suite 101, Medford, MA 02155(∗). Electronic address: ameleger@partners.org.
authors: Alec L
authors: AL
authors: Meleger
authors: Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut, Storrs CT(†).
authors: Cameron Kiely
authors: CK
authors: Froude
authors: Department of Orthopedics, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT(‡).
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Walker
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001218:Aspartame / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014675:Vegetables; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D004041:Dietary Fats; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D014807:Vitamin D; D002110:Caffeine; D000431:Ethanol; D001218:Aspartame