Eating Disorder Prevalence during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Two-Phase Study

Year 2024, Volume: 16 Issue: Supplement 1, 40 - 51

Nilay Atlıoğlu , F. Elif Ergüney Okumuş

https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1387026

Abstract

Objective: An increase in the prevalence of many psychological problems including Eating Disorders (EDs) during COVID-19 pandemic is noteworthy. Weight change experienced by many people in this period is accompanied by a deterioration in eating attitudes and behaviors. The aim of this study is to determine how eating attitudes and behaviors differ according to gender and weight change, and the prevalence of EDs during COVID-19 pandemic.
Method: Firstly, Socio-demographic-Clinical Information Form, Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26), and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) were administered to 771 participants. Then, the Eating Disorder Assessment for DSM-5 (EDA-5) was conducted as a semi-structured online clinical interview with the participants’ at-risk group. EDA-5 is a web-based diagnostic clinical interview which scans the last three-month according to the DSM-5 Eating Disorders diagnostic criteria that is administered by a clinician specialized in EDs. Results: Research findings indicated that participants' EAT-26 and EDE-Q scores differ significantly according to gender and weight change experienced during the pandemic. The prevalence of ED was 3% (N=20). According to sub types, Binge Eating Disorder was 1.3% (N=9), Bulimia Nervosa was 0.7% (N=5), Anorexia Nervosa was 0.4% (N=3), subthreshold Binge Eating Disorder was 0.4% (N=3), and subthreshold Bulimia Nervosa was 0.14% (N=1). Although not meeting the diagnostic criteria, the number of participants with disordered eating behavior was found to be 0.29% (N=2).
Conclusion: A higher prevalence rate was found compared to previous studies in Turkey which is assumed to provide evidence that the prevalence of EDs increased during the COVID-19 period.

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic, eating disorders, eating attitudes, anorexia nervosa

Ethical Statement

The authors declare that they complied with all ethical rules during the conduct of the study and the publication process.

Supporting Institution

none

Thanks

none

COVID-19 Pandemisi Döneminde Yeme Bozukluğu Yaygınlığı: İki Aşamalı Bir Çalışma

Abstract

Amaç: COVID-19 pandemi döneminde pek çok psikolojik rahatsızlıkta olduğu gibi Yeme bozukluklarının da daha yaygın görüldüğüne işaret eden sonuçlar vardır. Bu dönemde kişilerin deneyimlediği kilo değişimine, yeme tutum ve davranışlarında bozulmanın eşlik edebildiği anlaşılmaktadır. Bu araştırmada; COVID-19 sürecinde yeme tutum ve davranışlarının cinsiyete ve kilo değişimine göre nasıl farklılaştığını ve Yeme Bozukluğu (YB) yaygınlığını saptamak amaçlanarak iki aşamalı toplum temelli bir çalışma yürütülmüştür.
Yöntem: İlk aşamada 771 kişi Sosyo-demografik- Klinik Bilgi Formu, Yeme Tutum Testi-26 (YTT-26) ve Yeme Bozukluğu Değerlendirme Ölçeğini (YBDÖ) doldurmuştur. YTT-26 ve YBDÖ’den yüksek puan alan katılımcılara, ikinci aşamada DSM-5 için Yarı Yapılandırılmış Yeme Bozukluğu Görüşme Formu (EDA-5) bu alanda uzman klinisyen tarafından çevrim içi olarak uygulanmıştır. Web tabanlı bir görüşme olan EDA-5, son üç aylık periyodu, DSM-5 YB tanı kriterlerine göre tarayarak kişiye uygun YB tanısını belirlemeyi sağlamaktadır.
Bulgular: Araştırma bulguları katılımcıların YTT-26 ve YBDÖ puanlarının cinsiyete ve pandemide deneyimlenen kilo değişimine göre anlamlı olarak farklılaştığına işaret etmektedir. DSM-5’e göre YB yaygınlığı %3 (N=20) olarak bulunmuştur. YB türlerine göre; Tıkınırcasına Yeme Bozukluğu %1,3 (N=9), Bulimiya Nervoza (N=5) %0,7, Anoreksiya Nervoza (N=3) %0,4, eşik altı Tıkınırcasına Yeme Bozukluğu (N=3) %0,4, eşik altı Bulimiya Nervoza yaygınlığı (N=1) ise %0,14, YB tanı kriterlerini karşılamasa da bozulmuş̧ yeme davranışı gösteren kişilerin oranı (N=2) %0,29 olarak görülmüştür.
Sonuç: Türkiye’de pandemi döneminde tanı koyucu klinik görüşmeyle veri toplayan ilk çalışma olan bu araştırmanın sonuçları, ülkemizde pandemide saptanan YB yaygınlığının önceki yaygınlık çalışmalarından daha yüksek olduğuna işaret etmektedir. Bu sonuçların COVID-19 döneminde literatürde belirtildiği gibi YB yaygınlığının arttığına dair kanıt olabileceği düşünülmektedir.

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemisi, yeme bozuklukları, yeme tutumları, Anoreksiya nervoza

Ethical Statement

Yazarlar çalışmanın yürütülmesi ve yayın sürecinde tüm etik kurallara uygun davrandığını beyan etmektedir.

Supporting Institution

Yok

Thanks

Yok

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