Eating disorders in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Although the causes of eating disorders remain unclear, epidemiological evidence suggests that peripubertal changes in body shape and weight predispose young women to develop unhealthy eating attitudes. A psychiatric diagnosis of an eating disorder can be made in up to 10% of young women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 1 diabetes). Eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, pose a particularly serious risk to health in young diabetic people. Several features associated with type 1 diabetes and its treatment, such as weight gain, dietary restraint and food preoccupation, may predispose young diabetic women to develop a clinical or subclinical eating disorder. The coexistence of these conditions could lead to poor metabolic control and an increased risk of microvascular complications.

Disturbed eating behaviors and eating disorders in type 1 diabetes: Clinical significance and treatment recommendations

“…Even subthreshold disturbed eating behaviors are strongly associated with signifi cant medical and psychological consequences in the context of diabetes [21]. Endorsing insulin restriction alone was recently shown to increase mortality risk threefold over an 11-year follow-up period [22••].…”

Unhealthy weight management behavior among adolescent girls with type 1 diabetes mellitus: The role of familial eating patterns and weight-related concerns

“…One of the factors that may contribute to the use of unhealthy weight control behaviors in youth with DM is the increased emphasis on food, eating patterns, and regulation of dietary intake for DM management purposes [9]. Another contributing factor may be the increased emphasis on weight regulation, especially given the observation from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trials that youth with better metabolic control have a slightly higher body mass index (BMI) and an overall 33% increase in risk of becoming overweight [10].…”

Weight Control Practices and Disordered Eating Behaviors Among Adolescent Females and Males With Type 1 Diabetes

“…The pubertal changes in body shape and weight predispose some adolescent females to develop unhealthy eating attitudes (42). The presence of type 1 diabetes may heighten attention to dietary restraints, weight gain, and food preoccupation (42).…”

“…The presence of type 1 diabetes may heighten attention to dietary restraints, weight gain, and food preoccupation (42). Being overweight seems to be a risk factor associated with disordered eating among females with type 1 diabetes (9,28).…”