Prevalence of and attitudes toward eating disorders among female nurses

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of and attitudes toward eating disorders among female nurses. Participants and methods Female nurses who were under training in Alamal Psychiatric Complex Medina constituted the participants of the study. Nurses were differentiated into two groups: group A, with BMI below 20, and group B with BMI equal to or above 20. Group A and group B were subjected to a two-stage epidemiological study. In the first stage, Eating Attitude Test 26 (EAT 26) and Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh were used. In the second stage, Structured Clinical Interview of DSM-IV (SCID) was administered on nurses who had a score above the cutoff points. ResultsAnorexia nervosa was not diagnosed in any nurse (0%). Twelve (3.2%) nurses were diagnosed with bulimia nervosa. Thirteen (3.5%) nurses were diagnosed with binge eating and five (1.4%) nurses were diagnosed with eating disorder not otherwise specified. Both bulimic and oral subscales of EAT 26 were higher in group A than in group B (Po0.001 and < 0.05, respectively). No significant difference was found between the two groups in the two subscales of Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh. Conclusion Among female nurses, bulimia nervosa, binge eating, and eating disorders not otherwise specified were common, whereas anorexia nervosa was not found. This must warrant the development of specific strategies for early detection and proper management.

Prevalence, correlates, and gender disparities related to eating disordered behaviors among health science students and healthcare practitioners in Lebanon: Findings of a national cross sectional study

“…Besides, eating disorders were detected in 36% of the general Navy nurse community ( 23 ). Added to these, 8.1% of Saudi female nurses were shown to have eating disorders, including bulimia nervosa and binge eating ( 24 ). The understanding of eating disorders was also an interesting debate in some research studies.…”

The prevalence and nutritional status of adolescent Saudi girls with disordered eating

“…AN was not expected among Saudi adolescents. Previous studies in Saudi Arabia reported that religious and cultural factors forbid people from experiencing self-starvation ( 27 ) . In the past, AN was considered a Westernised disorder not prevalent among non-Western countries ( 28 ) .…”

The prevalence and correlates of bulimia nervosa, binge‐eating disorder, and anorexia nervosa: The Saudi National Mental Health Survey

“…Research on EDs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has been conducted in local settings (Alhazmi & Al Johani, 2019; Aljomaa, 2018; AlShebali et al, 2021; Alsulaiman & El Keshky, 2019; Alwosaifer et al, 2018; Anitha et al, 2019; Fatima et al, 2018; Hussein et al, 2016; Taha et al, 2018), mostly focusing on university students, and using screening instruments such as Eating Attitude Test‐26 (EAT‐26; Garner et al, 1982), and the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale−DSM‐5 (EDDS; Stice et al, 2000). There is a need for research studies aimed at determining the prevalence of EDs in representative population samples, using standardized assessments.…”