Nutrient intake in Spanish adolescents SCOFF high-scorers: the AVENA study

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Adolescent Health
• Eating Disorder Research

Background:

• Eating disorders (ED) are a significant concern in adolescent populations.
• Early identification through screening tools like the SCOFF questionnaire is crucial.
• Dietary patterns are closely linked to the development and manifestation of ED.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate dietary intake differences in adolescents screened for possible eating disorders (ED).
• To compare nutrient intake between adolescents with positive (SCOFF+) and negative (SCOFF-) scores on the SCOFF questionnaire.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 235 Spanish adolescents.
• Data collected included age, gender, BMI, maternal education, and a 7-day dietary record.
• ANCOVA was used to analyze nutrient intake differences, adjusted for covariates, based on SCOFF scores (≥2 indicating possible ED).

Main Results:

• 21.7% of adolescents screened positive for possible ED.
• Girls with high SCOFF scores had significantly lower mean daily energy intake than low scorers (P < 0.001); no difference was observed in boys.
• While macronutrient intake showed no significant differences, girls with high SCOFF scores had lower intakes of sodium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, vitamin B2, and niacin.

Conclusions:

• Adolescent girls with possible ED symptoms exhibit reduced total energy and specific micronutrient consumption.
• Dietary patterns in boys with possible ED symptoms did not differ significantly from their peers.
• Findings highlight gender-specific nutritional impacts associated with possible eating disorders in adolescents.