[Early detection and prevalence of risk of eating disorders in Primary Care in Guadalajara city]

OBJECTIVES

To know the percentage of adolescent patients at risk of developing an eating disorder (ED); to identify the prevalence of risk for Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Unspecified Eating Disorders (NERD) according to age, sex, health centers, nationality and family data; determine the percentage of young people with subclinical forms and study the feasibility of using tools for the early detection of this pathology in Primary Care.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Observational, cross-sectional and multicentre study developed in the five health centers of the city of Guadalajara. Sample of 291 adolescents (124 males and 167 females) obtained through stratified, multi-stage and proportional random sampling according to age, sex and health centers. Sociodemographic, anthropometric and family variables were studied and the EAT-26, SCOFF and EDE-Q6.0 tests were applied in the first round and the EDE-12 interview in the second round.

RESULTS

The global prevalence of risk of eating disorders was 17.5% (95% CI: 13.7%-19.4%). The variables, having siblings, being single-parent and having obesity were statistically significant. Among the various types of EDs, the NERD were statistically significant with respect to Anorexia and Bulimia. The subscale concern for the silhouette was statistically significant with respect to the others. The SCOFF questionnaire showed a sensitivity of 91.6% and a specificity of 91.0% and the EDE-Q, 99.3% and 91.7% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

High percentage of adolescents at risk of developing an eating disorder. The unspecified type of eating disorders and the concern for the silhouette subscale predominate. The SCOFF test proves to be a good screening instrument in Primary Care.