Mo1294 Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating in GI Patients: A Comparison of Functional Bowel Disorders, Inflammatory Bowel Disorders, and Esophageal Disorders

Abstract

Background: It is clinically important for GEs to identify patients with or at risk for eating disorders. Food restriction is common in patients with GI conditions and it is often difficult to determine when such restriction rises to the level of eating disorder pathology. Body dissatisfaction is both a diagnostic criterion and an important risk factor for most eating disorders but is rarely considered in GI practices. We examined image and eating behavior in 3 GI patient populations: functional bowel disorders (FBD), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and esophageal disorders (ESO). We hypothesized that dissatisfaction would differentiate GI patient groups and predict disordered eating. Methods: GI patients presenting to an academic medical center GI practice completed demographic information, the dissatisfaction scale of the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 and the Eating Attitudes Test. The dissatisfaction scale assesses discontent with the size and shape of different areas of the through statements such as I think that my thighs are too large. The EAT-26 consists of three subscales: dieting (e.g., food restriction), bulimia/food preoccupation (e.g., purging behaviors and/or having excessive thoughts about food intake), and oral control (e.g., pressure to eat from others and/or specific habits such as eating slowly). Sample items include I am preoccupied with the thought of fat on my body and I like my stomach to be empty. One-way Anova and t-tests were performed to identify differences between groups. Regression analyses were used to determine the role of dissatisfaction on eating behavior. Results: 31 patients completed the survey, mean age 44.23(16.26), n=31, 81% Female, mean BMI 24.97(5.92). ANOVA compared the effect of GI group (FBD, IBD, ESO) on dissatisfaction and disordered eating [Table 1]. There was a main effect for GI group on dissatisfaction (F(2, 27) = 4.94, p = .02) and a trend towards disordered eating (F(2, 27) = 2.57, p = .096) by group. Body dissatisfaction was significantly higher in IBD than ESO. FBD did not significantly differ from either group. Disordered eating was significantly higher in FBD than ESO. IBD group did not differ. Body dissatisfaction significantly predicted dieting (b = .41; p = .04) and bulimia/food preoccupation ((b = .47; p = .01) but not oral control (b = .23; p = .22) on EAT-26. Conclusions: Body dissatisfaction and disordered eating appear to vary by GI patient group. IBD patients tend to be the most at-risk for dissatisfaction, which may potentially be due to visible signs of illness or medication side effects. FBD group was more likely to endorse disordered eating. Body dissatisfaction predicted dieting as well as bulimia/food preoccupation and may serve as a useful tool to identify GI patients at risk for disordered eating. The Effect of GI Patient Group on Body Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating