Prevalencia del trastorno por atracón en una muestra clínica de obesos

Abstract

Introduction: Binge eating disorder is characterized by the presence of recurrent binge eating episodes in a short period of time, accompanied by loss of control. This disorder is the most frequent of all eating disorders in obese people, both adults and children. Objective: The objective of this study was to obtain prevalence data for binge eating disorder in a sample of obese children, users of a specialized pediatric unit in the treatment of childhood obesity. Material and Methods: A sample had 70 children and adolescents aged 9 to 16, with a mean age of 12 years attending a pediatric ward in the General Hospital of Valencia. To carry out the evaluation the following instruments were used, Diagnostic Interview for Binge Eating Disorder (SCID-IV), Binge Eating Disorder Scale Child (C-BED) and Questionnaire of eating patterns and weight (QEWP). Results: After the assessment, 6% of the clinical sample was diagnosed with binge eating disorder according to criteria established by the DSM-IVTR, and 14% showed subclinical forms of the diagnosis. Conclusions: The results are in line with previous studies that highlight the necessity of assessing these disorders in specialized units in the treatment of obesity.