Prevalencia de riesgo de trastornos alimentarios en adolescentes mujeres escolares de la Región Metropolitana

Abstract

Background: Adolescent eating disorders (ED) are a serious public health problem rising with morbidity and mortality. It is important a quick detection, since an early beginning of treatment improves the prognosis and results. Objective: To quantify the risk prevalence of ED in female adolescents of the Metropolitan Region (MR), and evidence differences by groups of age and socioeconomical level (SEL). To identify the impact of the psychological characteristics that reinforce them. Patients and Methods: The EDI-2 test was applied to a total of 1610 female students between 11 and 19 years old. The sample was not random and was extracted from 9 schools chosen by convenience, located in areas of different SEL in the MR. The threshold used to consider risk of ED was > 110. Results: 1 050 surveys were analyzed. 8,3% of the adolescent school population presented risk factors for ED. A higher risk of ED was found in schools located in low-income areas (11,3%), middle-income (8,3%) and high-income (5,1%). These differences were statistically significant (p < 0,02). A tendency to a greater proportion of adolescents at risk of ED was shown in the group of girls 12 years old or younger (10,3%), while those between 13 and 15 years old presented 8,6%, and 7,4% for those older than 16 (p < 0,575). The three first scores, (DT) Drive for Thinness (14,6 vs 6,3), (B) Bulimia (6,1 vs 1,8) and (BD) Body Dissatisfaction (17,2 vs 7,7) discriminate the high-risk group to develop ED. The eight remaining scores show traces of personality that reinforce eating disorders. Conclusions: 1) The study concludes that prevalence of risk for ED in the screened population was 8,3%; 2) The prevalence of risk for ED was greater in the low-income socioeconomic level (11,3%) (p < 0,02); 3) Despite not being statistically significant, the observed tendency is that the group at greater risk is the one of younger age, recommending a future evaluation; 4) The results confirm that the three first scores of the test EDI-2 distinguish the group at highest risk of developing an ED; 5) We believe that the use of this screening test routinely in adolescent population will be fundamental for an early detection of ED when applicated by experienced professionals on specific populations under study.