Abstract:

Objective: Increasing the incidence of eating disorder (ED) attitude during adolescence may lead to inadequate nutrient intake and consequently to growth disorders. This study aimed to compare eating habits and nutrient intakes of adolescents with high risk and low risk of developing eating disorders in high schools in Tehran, Iran. Methods: In the current cross-sectional study, the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) was applied to 299 students (185 females and 114 males) aged 15-18 years for the determination of ED attitudes. Food habits and nutrient intake were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire and a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), respectively. Nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) and mean adequacy ratio (MAR) were calculated using nutrient’s Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) for age and sex. Results: Of all students, 17.7% were at risk of developing ED. The results showed that girls, unlike boys, consumed more energy than they needed, but this difference between the ED group in both sexes was not significant. The distribution of sweetened drinks, candy, chocolate, and fast food frequency was significantly different between the two groups of girls (P<0.05). In contrast, boys at risk of developing ED tended to eat healthier followed by higher vegetable intake and nutritional components. NAR scores were above 1 for all nutrients excluding potassium and vitamin D. The mean MAR in ED groups of boy and girl participants was 2.1% and 13.2% higher than non-ED subjects, respectively. Conclusion: Eating habits and accordingly nutrient intake can be affected by eating disorder attitudes in girls and boys adolescents.

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