Eating disorders and associated factors in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Background: Eating disorders are a group of diseases with psychiatric background associated with physical manifestations related to weight and body image. We can classify patients with diabetes, into those who suffer from eating disorders or disordered eating behaviors, both being associated with the typical symptoms of eating behavior disorders. The objective was to analyze the frequency and factors associated with nutrition disorders in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Method: Observational, cross-sectional, prospective and descriptive study of 100 adolescents with type 1 diabetes to whom the DEPS-R survey was applied to determine the frequency of nutrition disorders.

Results: A positive DEPS-R survey score was presented for appearance of eating disorders in patients with type 1 diabetes in 33% of patients cases. There was a positive association using the χ² test between body mass index and a positive screening (p = 0.006) and with uncontrolled glycated hemoglobin (p < 0.05), without being related to the patients sex (p = 0.20).

Conclusions: The DEPS-R survey is applicable to the Mexican population to screen for risk of altered eating behaviors at pediatric age. Patients with poor glycemic control, overweight and obesity have higher prevalence of eating disorders.