Screening of the frequency of behaviors suggestive of eating disorders at Positivo University

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this report is to trace the frequency of behavior that suggest eating disorders in a group of students of courses which were previously randomly selected among those of Universidade Positivo and compare the prevalence of these disorders between the courses and between men and women, confronting these data with those in worldwide literature. Methods: This is a prevalence study in which the auto- scales of Bite (Bulimia Edimburgh Investigation Test) and EAT-26 (Eating Attitude Test) were applied in 463 university students of biological and health courses in Universidade Positivo, who had been previously selected at random. Results: According to the scale of EAT-26, 23 students (5%) presented possible eating disorder, with a significant predominance of females. Moreover, the auto-scale of BITE indicated that 17 students (4%) had a score compatible with nervous bulimia. It has also been found, according to the BITE-severity scale, that 6 students (1%) had very severe disorder and 33 students (7,3%) had a score that suggested a compromised clinical state. Conclusions: This study shows that the frequency of eating disorders in the population studied, as well as the frequency of inadequate eating behavior, particularly among females, is similar to the data available in literature. It is possible to conclude that these findings are relevant to the clinical practice among the age that was studied and that they can lead to the development of assistencial measures for patients with eating disorders and to future studies in which we might be able to have better understanding of the risk factors that contribute to the development of eating disorders.