Conductas anoréxicas en la población de estudiantes de secundaria de un área sanitaria

Objetivos

Estimar la prevalencia de actitudes alimentarias determinantes de trastornos del comportamiento alimentario y su relación con variables sociodemográficas y culturales.

Diseno

Estudio de prevalencia.

Participantes

Centros de enseñanza secundaria. Área Sanitaria de Gijón (Asturias). Alumnos de enseñanza secundaria (n = 17.000) seleccionados mediante muestreo estratificado polietápico.

Mediciones y resultados principales

Cuestionario autocumplimentado incluyendo: variables sociodemográficas «Eating Attitudes Test-26» (considerando conducta anorexica puntuaciones ≥ 20); las mujeres cumplimentaron ademas el ªCuestionario de Influencias sobre el Modelo Estético Corporal»(CIMEC-26).

:. Ochocientos sesenta cuestionarios válidos; 50% mujeres y 50% varones. Prevalencia de actitudes anoréxicas: 12,8% (IC del 95%, 9-16,5) y 1,8% (IC del 95%, 0,8-2,8), respectivamente. En el grupo con actitudes anoréxicas, un 87,3% son mujeres; media de edad, 16,4 años; el 88,3% vive en medio urbano; un 84% se distribuye en clase social media y media-baja; el 92% estudia bachillerato, un 28,5% en centros privados; practican actividades relacionadas con un cuerpo delgado el 27%; un 18,3% tiene padres separados; en un 27% sus madres trabajan fuera de casa; el 39,7% se ve gordo y un 81% desea adelgazar. Mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas, con la población normal, las variables: sexo (OR, 7,7; IC del 95%, 4,5-13,4), padres separados (OR, 1,9; IC del 95%, 1,4-2,8), practicar actividades relacionadas con un cuerpo delgado (OR, 3,7; IC del 95%, 2,7- 5,2), considerarse gordo (OR, 4,7; IC del 95%, 3,1-7,1) y desear adelgazar (OR, 7,2; IC del 95%, 4,6- 11,2). De las mujeres con conductas alteradas presentan alteración en el CIMEC-26 un 94,5%.

Conclusiones

Elevada prevalencia de actitudes alimentarias similares a las de pacientes con anorexia nerviosa, encontrando relación con las variables: ser mujer, tener padres separados, verse gorda, desear adelgazar y practicar actividades relacionadas con tener cuerpo delgado. No observamos diferencias significativas con la población normal para otras variables sociodemográficas. El modelo estético corporal impuesto socialmente determina conductas anoréxicas en mujeres.

Objectives

To calculate the prevalence of eating attitudes which determine eating disorders and their relationship to social, personal and cultural variables.

Design

Prevalence study.

Participants

Centres of secondary education. Gijón Health Area (Asturias). Secondary school students (n = 17000) selected by multi-stage stratified sampling.

Measurements and main results

The self-filled questionnaire included: social and personal variables, and Eating Attitudes Test 26 (anorexic conduct defined as scores = 20). Women also filled in the «Questionnaire on Influences on the Aesthetic Model of the Body» (CIMEC-26). There were 860 valid questionnaires, with 50% women. There was 12.8% prevalence of anorexic attitudes among women (95% CI, 9-16.5), and 1.8% among men (CI, 0.8-2.8). In the group with anorexic attitudes, 87.3% were women, with mean age 16.4; 88.3% lived in a city; 84% were in middle and middle-to-low social classes; 92% were studying their bachillerato; 28.5% attended private schools; 27% undertook activities related to having a thin body; 18.3% had separated parents; 27% had mothers working outside the home; 39.7% saw themselves as fat; and 81% wished to slim. The following variables showed statistically significant differences with the normal population: sex (OR = 7.7; 95% CI, 4.5-13.4), separated parents (OR = 1.9; CI, 1.4-2.8), undertaking activities relating to having a thin body (OR = 3.7; CI, 2.7-5.2); thinking oneself fat (OR = 4.7; CI, 3.1-7.1) and wishing to slim (OR = 7.2; CI, 4.6-11.2). 94.5% of women with disordered conduct showed a disorder on the CIMEC-26.

Conclusions

There is a high prevalence of eating habits similar to those of patients with anorexia nerviosa, which are related to the following variables: being a woman, having separated parents, seeing oneself as fat, desiring to slim and undertaking activities related to having a thin body. We observed no significant differences with the normal population in other social and personal variables. The socially imposed aesthetic model of the body determines anorexic conduct in women.