Nutrient intake in Spanish adolescents SCOFF high-scorers: the AVENA study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether adolescents with a positive score in a screening tool for possible eating disorders (ED) have a different diet intake in comparison with those with a negative score.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study performed in 235 adolescents (37.9 % boys) from Zaragoza (Spain). Age, gender, BMI, maternal education, nutrient intake (7-day record) and screening tool for detecting ED [sick control on fat food test (SCOFF)] were assessed. ANCOVA test was used to determine nutrient intake differences (namely energy, macronutrients and micronutrients) according to the SCOFF total score (SCOFF ≥2 indicates a possible case of ED). ANCOVA test was adjusted by age, maternal education and BMI. This research was based on data from the cross-sectional multicenter Alimentación y Valoración del Estado Nutricional en Adolescentes españoles (Feeding and Assessment of Nutritional status of Spanish Adolescents) study.


RESULTS
The proportion of adolescents with possible symptoms of ED was 21.7 %. Girls SCOFF high-scorers (SCOFF+) mean daily energy intake was significantly lower than in those SCOFF low-scorers (SCOFF-) (P < 0.001); however, in boys there was no difference. Both in girls and boys, there were no statistically significant differences according to SCOFF questionnaire for macronutrient intake, adjusted by daily energy intake. Concerning micronutrients, in girls with SCOFF+ sodium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, vitamin B2and niacin intakes were significantly lower than in those with SCOFF-; however, in boys, there were no differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescent girls with current possible symptoms of ED presented lower total energy intake and several micronutrients intake compared with their peers without ED.
GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, 12 Pedro Cerbuna rd, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain. estecha@unizar.es.
Sara
S
Estecha Querol
GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, 12 Pedro Cerbuna rd, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain.|Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III, 3 Melchor Fernández Almagro rd, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
Juan Miguel
JM
Fernández Alvira
GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, 12 Pedro Cerbuna rd, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain.
María Isabel
MI
Mesana Graffe
Immunonutrition Research Group, Institute of Food Science, Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN)-CSIC, 10 José Antonio Novais rd, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
Esther
E
Nova Rebato
Immunonutrition Research Group, Institute of Food Science, Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN)-CSIC, 10 José Antonio Novais rd, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
Ascensión
A
Marcos Sánchez
GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, 12 Pedro Cerbuna rd, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain.
Luis Alberto
LA
Moreno Aznar
D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Adolescents; Eating disorders; Nutrient intake; SCOFF questionnaire; Underreporting