Disordered eating behaviors in youths with type 1 diabetes during COVID-19 lockdown: an exploratory study

Abstract Background Recent research indicates that patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at higher risk for disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) than their peers without diabetes. The present study aimed to explore the prevalence of DEBs in a sample of Italian children and adolescents with T1D and in matched-pair healthy controls during the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods In a cross-sectional study, 138 children and adolescents with T1D (aged 8.01–19.11 years, 65 boys) attending a Southern Italian diabetic service and 276 age- and gender-matched healthy peers voluntarily completed an online survey about eating behaviors (ChEAT and EAT-26), anthropometric characteristics, and clinical characteristics. Results 8.69% (N = 12) of participants with T1D and 13.4% (N = 37) of controls had ChEAT/EAT-26 scores indicating presence of DEBs, with no differences between patients—whether children (total ChEAT score F(1, 157) = .104, p = .748) or adolescents (total EAT-26 score F(1, 255) = .135, p = .731)—and healthy peers. zBMI values were lower than those measured in the latest diabetes visit (p < .0001), while HbA1c values remained unchanged (p = .110). In both groups, adolescents had lower Oral Control scores than children (T1D: F(1, 138) = 20.411, p < .0001, η2 = .132, controls: F(1, 276) = 18.271, p < .0001, η2 = .063); additionally, gender (female) and age were found to be significant predictors of several ChEAT/EAT-26 scores. Conclusions This exploratory study suggested that children and adolescents with T1D did not experience more DEB symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown compared to healthy controls. Results revealed DEBs as more of a female adolescent developmental issue rather than a result of the challenges of living with a chronic illness under quarantine measures. Possible effects of parental pressure on their children’s eating behaviors in the context of home confinement and of using a non-diabetes-specific measure to assess DEBs are discussed.

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The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on disordered eating behaviors in youths with type 1 diabetes: Analysis of cross-sectional survey data.

10.21203/rs.3.rs-50466/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Alda Troncone ◽

Antonietta Chianese ◽

Angela Zanfardino ◽

Crescenzo Cascella ◽

Alessia Piscopo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Eating Behaviors ◽

Female Adolescent ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Disordered Eating Behaviors ◽

Eat 26 ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background: Recent research indicates that patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at higher risk for disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) than their peers without diabetes. The present study aimed at examining the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on DEBs in a sample of Italian children and adolescents with T1D and in matched-pair healthy controls.Methods: 138 children and adolescents with T1D (aged 8.01-19.11 years, 65 boys) attending a Southern Italian diabetic service and 276 age- and gender-matched healthy peers voluntarily completed a cross-sectional online survey of eating behaviors (ChEAT and Eat-26), anthropometric characteristics, and clinical characteristics. Results: 8.69% (N=12) of participants with T1D and 13.4% (N=37) of controls had ChEAT/EAT-26 scores indicating presence of DEBs, with no differences between patients—whether children (total ChEAT score F(1, 157)=.104, p=.748) or adolescents (total EAT-26 score F(1, 255)=.135, p=.731)—and healthy peers. zBMI values were lower than those measured in the latest diabetes visit (p<.0001), while HbA1c values remained unchanged (p=.110). In both groups, adolescents had lower Oral Control scores than children (T1D: F(1, 138)= 20.411, p<.0001, η2 =.132, controls: F(1, 276)=18.271, p<.0001, η2 =.063); additionally, gender (female) and age were found to be significant predictors of several ChEAT/EAT-26 scores.Discussion: Psychological conditions in relation to DEB symptoms of children and adolescents with T1D were not aggravated by lockdown conditions. Results indicated DEBs as more of a female adolescent developmental issue rather than as a result of the challenges of living with a chronic illness aggravated by outbreak. Possible effects of parental pressure on their children’s eating behaviors in the context of home confinement and of using a non-diabetes-specific measure to assess DEBs are discussed.

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Gender differences in disordered eating behaviors and body dissatisfaction among adolescents with type 1 diabetes: Results from diabetes MILES youth-Australia

International Journal of Eating Disorders ◽

10.1002/eat.22746 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 50 (10) ◽

pp. 1183-1193 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Emanuala Araia ◽

Christel Hendrieckx ◽

Timothy Skinner ◽

Frans Pouwer ◽

Jane Speight ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Body Dissatisfaction ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Eating Behaviors ◽

Disordered Eating Behaviors

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Disordered Eating Behaviors Are Not Increased by an Intervention to Improve Diet Quality but Are Associated With Poorer Glycemic Control Among Youth With Type 1 Diabetes

Diabetes Care ◽

10.2337/dc17-0090 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

pp. 869-875 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Miriam H. Eisenberg Colman ◽

Virginia M. Quick ◽

Leah M. Lipsky ◽

Katherine W. Dempster ◽

Aiyi Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Glycemic Control ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Eating Behaviors ◽

Disordered Eating Behaviors

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Disordered Eating Behaviors Among Italian Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: Exploring Relationships with Parents’ Eating Disorder Symptoms, Externalizing and Internalizing Behaviors, and Body Image Problems

Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings ◽

10.1007/s10880-019-09665-9 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 727-745 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Alda Troncone ◽

Antonietta Chianese ◽

Angela Zanfardino ◽

Crescenzo Cascella ◽

Santino Confetto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Eating Disorder ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Eating Behaviors ◽

Internalizing Behaviors ◽

Disordered Eating Behaviors ◽

Eating Disorder Symptoms ◽

Italian Adolescents ◽

Image Problems

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An Examination of Sex Differences in a Disease-Specific Model of Disordered Eating Behaviors in Type 1 Diabetes

Journal of Pediatric Psychology ◽

10.1093/jpepsy/jsz090 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 45 (1) ◽

pp. 91-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Laura B Smith ◽

Nicole Foster ◽

Sureka Bollepalli ◽

Hannah F Fitterman-Harris ◽

Diana Rancourt

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Eating Disorder ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Eating Behaviors ◽

Eating Disorder Risk ◽

Disordered Eating Behaviors ◽

Disease Specific ◽

Disorder Risk

Abstract Objective Preliminary evidence supports the integration of type 1 diabetes (T1D) disease-specific factors into eating disorder risk models. The current study explored whether cross-sectional associations among constructs included in the modified dual pathway model of eating disorder risk for individuals with T1D are similar across sex among adolescents and young adults with T1D. Methods Original study participants were recruited from the T1D Exchange Clinic Network, a U.S. registry of individuals with T1D. Online surveys included measures of general eating disorder risk factors, hypothesized T1D-specific risk factors, and a T1D-specific eating disorder questionnaire. The current study is a secondary analysis with the adolescents (13–17 years; n = 307; 46.9% female) and young adults (18–25 years; n = 313; 62.6% female) from the original sample. In the absence of strong measurement invariance for all measures of interest, sex-specific path models were estimated among the adolescent and young adult cohorts. Results Only two paths emerged as significant in the female, but not male, adolescent model. In the young adult cohort, all significant paths were the same across sex. Conclusions Both general and T1D-specific risk factors are associated with disordered eating behaviors in the T1D population. Patterns of associations were similar across male and female youth with T1D, suggesting that sex-specific prevention approaches to disordered eating behaviors among T1D youth may not be warranted.

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