Premium
Factors associated with disordered eating behaviours in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes
Author(s) -
CeciliaCosta R.,
Volkening L. K.,
Laffel L. M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/dme.13890
Subject(s) - disordered eating , medicine , psychosocial , diabetes mellitus , type 1 diabetes , type 2 diabetes , quality of life (healthcare) , affect (linguistics) , clinical psychology , eating disorders , psychiatry , endocrinology , psychology , nursing , communication
Aims To assess the occurrence of disordered eating behaviours in teenagers with Type 1 diabetes and to compare characteristics according to level of disordered eating behaviours. Methods In this cross‐sectional study, we collected adolescents’ demographic and diabetes management data by parent–youth interview and chart review. Teenagers completed psychosocial surveys, including the Diabetes Eating Problem Survey‐Revised ( DEPS ‐R), a diabetes‐specific measure of disordered eating behaviours. We categorized teenagers according to level of disordered eating behaviours: low, DEPS ‐R score <10; moderate, DEPS ‐R score 10–19; and high, DEPS ‐R score ≥20. Results The 178 teenagers (48% girls) were aged 14.9±1.3 years, with diabetes duration of 7.4±3.7 years. Most (59%) had low, 26% had moderate, and 15% had high levels of disordered eating behaviours. Several biomedical and psychosocial characteristics differed by level of disordered eating behaviours. There were more girls in the moderate (62%) and high (65%) than in the low level of disordered eating behaviours group (37%; P =0.003) and more obese teenagers in the moderate (13%) and high (27%) groups than in the low group (4%; P =0.0003). Frequency of daily blood glucose monitoring decreased ( P =0.0006) and HbA 1c level increased ( P =0.01) with greater level of disordered eating behaviours. A greater level of disordered eating behaviours was also associated with poorer treatment adherence, more negative affect regarding blood glucose monitoring, poorer quality of life, and more depressive symptoms (all P <0.0001), along with more diabetes‐specific family conflict ( P =0.01). Conclusions Identifying teenagers with Type 1 diabetes who have moderate and high levels of disordered eating behaviours may prevent progression to eating disorders and substantial morbidity by directing support and intervention efforts to those in need.