ASSESSMENT OF EATING BEHAVIOR IN PATIENTS WITH METABOLIC DISORDERS

Abstract

Aim. The paper was aimed at evaluating the predictive value of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) to verify eating disorders (ED) with respect to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in obese and overweight patients; to establish correlations between ED and the main psychosocial factors or physical activity levels. Materials and methods. The study involved 143 overweight and obese patients who were assessed for demographic, behavioral, and social characteristics. All study participants completed the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) and were assessed for eating disorders with respect to DSM-5 provisions. Results. The prevalence of eating disorders (ED) among patients with obesity and overweight was 24.73% (n = 23), most frequently represented by bulimia nervosa and compulsive overeating. Mathematical analysis and the use of the point-biserial correlation coefficient revealed relationships between moderate bulimia nervosa and the scales of emotional (rbs = 0.53, p < 0.001) and external (rbs = 0.34, p = 0.002) eating behavior in patients with obesity and overweight. Conclusion. The presence of a statistically significant relationship between the results of the DEBQ questionnaire and the DSM-5 criteria among obese and overweight patients indicates the need for algorithms and standards of a multifactorial nature that presume weight control in active interaction with endocrinologists, nutritionists, therapists, and psychiatrists.