High risk of eating disorders in adults shows the need for more nutritional education actions

Abstract

Eating disorders, particularly, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa have been highlighted for clinicians and researchers. They are heterogeneous group of complex psychiatric disorders characterized by abnormal eating behaviours that lead to a high rate of morbidity. Considering that early detection of predisposition to eating disorders is very important, the present study aimed to detect the risks of adults over 18 years. This choice was due to the fact that the great majority of the published researches were in samples of adolescents and young adults, not having many data in higher age. The research was carried out in 2017, in Brazil, with 142 adults participants, 107 women and 35 men. To assess the risk of eating disorders was used Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26). According to the results of the EAT-26 the prevalence of high risk for eating disorders was 49.9%, a very alarming finding, is well above the world average. Through the detection of populations at risk it is possible to implement and intensify educational actions focused on the nutrition.