Disordered eating behaviors among Turkish adolescents with and without Type 1 diabetes

The aim of this comparative study was to determine the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) and its affecting factors among adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. Subjects were 45 diabetic adolescents and 55 nondiabetic healthy control subjects. The main outcome measures used were the Eating Attitudes Test and the Body Image Scale (BIS). Findings suggest that DEBs are almost four times as common in diabetic adolescents as in their nondiabetic peers (p < .001). Strict diet restriction and insulin misuse (p < .01) were related to DEBs. Disordered eating behaviors make a significant contribution to menstrual problems (p < .001) and poor metabolic control (p < .001). There was a nonsignificant negative correlation between DEBs and the BIS score. Health care professionals should be aware of the potential effect of subclinical and clinical DEBs including insulin misuse and strict diet in weight-conscious people with Type 1 diabetes who have poor metabolic control and menstrual problems.