Eating Disorders in Healthcare Professionals : Prevalence of High-Risk Cases and Associated Factors

Eating disorders (EDs) are a growing concern among healthcare professionals, a population often exposed to high levels of stress. Despite their role in promoting health, the well-being of healthcare professionals themselves is sometimes overlooked. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of healthcare professionals at high risk of EDs and to identify the associated factors.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among HCPs working at Hedi Chaker University Hospital in Sfax, Tunisia. To screen for HCPs at high risk of EDs, we used the validated French version of the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26).

Among the 370 HCPs included, females represented 74.6% of the sample (n=276). The median age was 30 years. The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 24.79±3.74 kg/m², and 151 cases (40.8%) were overweight or obese. The median EAT-26 score was 10, and 91 participants (24.6%) were at high risk of EDs. Multivariate analysis showed that factors independently associated with EDs were paramedical profession (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 3.02; p<0.001), personal history of chronic illness (AOR = 2.17; p = 0.015), abnormal perception of body image (AOR = 1.99; p = 0.012), and exercising more than 60 minutes per day to control body shape (AOR = 5.69; p < 0.001).

These findings highlight the importance of identifying high-risk professionals. Early preventive measures should be established at the workplace to prevent EDs such as promoting work-life balance and reducing job-related stress, implementing training programs to raise awareness about eating disorders and encouraging physical activity and healthy eating habits in the workplace.