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Disordered eating behaviors and energy and nutrient intake in a regional sample of Brazilian adolescents from public schools

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To estimate the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors and the association with energy and nutrient intake and nutritional status in adolescents.

Methods

A school-based cross-sectional study was performed involving a probabilistic sample of 487 teenagers (aged 15–19 years) from public schools in the Metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Eating Attitude Test and the Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh questionnaires were applied to identify abnormal eating patterns and unusual dietary patterns, respectively. Nutritional status was defined by sex- and age-specific body mass index cutoffs. Energy and nutrient intake were assessed by a 3-day food record. The association between variables was assessed by the prevalence ratio and 95% confidence intervals, Pearson’s Chi-square test, and linear regression.

Results

The prevalence of abnormal eating patterns was 7.4% and that of unusual dietary patterns was 18.9%. Vitamin C intake was higher among girls with abnormal dietary patterns, with a consequent lower frequency of vitamin C deficiency when compared to those with normal dietary patterns. Calcium intake was lower in boys with unusual dietary pattern than in those without this behavior. Excess weight was associated with the presence of unusual dietary pattern in girls (PR: 2.4, 95% CI 1.6–3.5).

Conclusions

The prevalence of disordered eating behaviors was high, mainly in those who were overweight. It was associated with lower calcium intake in boys and with higher Vitamin C intake in girls.

Level of evidence

Level V, descriptive studies.

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Funding

This study was funded by Foundation for Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro (grant number E-26/171.404/2002) and by the National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (grant number 305464/2008-6).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Av Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Ilha do Fundão, CCS, Bloco J, 2° andar, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 21941-902, Brazil

    Lorena Gasparini Caran, Danilo Dias Santana & Gloria Valeria da Veiga

  2. Nutrition Course, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Campus UFRJ-Macaé), Rua Aloísio da Silva Gomes, 50, Macaé, RJ, CEP 27930-560, Brazil

    Luana Silva Monteiro

Authors
  1. Lorena Gasparini Caran
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  2. Danilo Dias Santana
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  3. Luana Silva Monteiro
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  4. Gloria Valeria da Veiga
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Danilo Dias Santana.

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Conflict of interest

Lorena Caran declares that she has no conflict of interest. Danilo Santana declares that he has no conflict of interest. Luana Monteiro declares that she has no conflict of interest. Gloria Veiga declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Caran, L.G., Santana, D.D., Monteiro, L.S. et al. Disordered eating behaviors and energy and nutrient intake in a regional sample of Brazilian adolescents from public schools. Eat Weight Disord 23, 825–832 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0519-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-018-0519-9

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