Assessment of the eating behaviour of adolescent girls from Varna, Bulgaria. (30th September 2020) - Marinov, D
Abstract: Background: Healthy eating behaviour of children determines their normal physical and neuropsychological status. Epidemiological data has revealed an increasing prevalence rate of disordered eating behaviour in the population for all ages and genders. It is most common in adolescent girls who often conduct extreme weight control practices, driven by a desire to achieve the "perfect" body shape. Methods: A study was conducted among 240 adolescent girls from Varna aiming to estimate their eating behaviour. The data was collected via: Anthropometric measurements for assessment of the nutritional status Bioelectrical impedance analysis of body composition assessment Questionnaires including: Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ); The Eating Attitudes Test - 26 (EAT- 26) to access the risk factors for the development of eating disorders (ED); Questionnaire for identification of risk factors contributing to early dieting. Results: The analysis of the results shows that the eating behaviour of the female students aged from 14 to 19 years in Varna can be defined as risky. Findings demonstrate a significant percentage of subjects who are on a diet at the time of the survey. Over 36% of the participants show at least 1 symptom correlating with an increased risk for the development of ED and 22.7% are at very high risk of developing an ED in the future. Conclusions: The findings suggest that adolescent girls tend to engage in unhealthy approaches trying to reach their "thin ideal". Early detection of disordered eating behaviour is especially important to prevent the development of clinically expressed ED and the complications associated with them. Key messages: The study has revealed that a significant percentage of adolescent girls are at high risk of developing an eating disorder. The data shows a need for an early detection program for risky eating behaviour in order to prevent the development of ED amongst adolescents.