STUDY OF THE PROBABILITY OF EATING DISORDERS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Authors: Antonets V. , Tokarchuk N. , Chekotun T. , Herasymova O. , Konoplitska A. , Sazonova S. 
Published: December 2024

Eating disorders (EDs) are a critical concern due to their increasing prevalence among adolescents over the past 50 years. These disorders are associated with serious medical and social consequences and have the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder in most middle- and high-income countries. While eating disorders typically begin in adolescence or young adulthood, they can occur at any age, including childhood. This issue is becoming increasingly global, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Pediatricians are often the first healthcare providers to encounter these disorders, so it is essential that they are well informed about the identification and management of EDs. Because these disorders can cause physical and psychological complications, they can significantly affect the quality of life of the child and their family. A meta-analysis of 94 studies highlights a gender disparity in the prevalence of eating disorders, with females more likely to be affected (8%) than males (2%).
 Aim.  To investigate the levels of probability of eating disorders among students in grades 7-10 in different regions of Ukraine and to study the level of awareness of eating disorders among students of Pirogov National Medical University.
Materials and methods. In the course of the study, an anonymous survey was conducted among students in grades 7-10 of secondary schools in Chornomors'k, Vinnytsia, and Chernihiv to assess the risk of eating disorders. The standardized questionnaire EAT-26 (Eating Attitudes Test 26) was used for data collection. The study was approved by the Biomedical Ethics Committee on compliance with moral and legal rules of medical research at the Vinnytsia National Medical University named after M.I. Pyrohov. Statistical processing of the data was carried out using the software package IBM SPSS "STATISTICA 12" StatSoft Inc. and Excel XP for Windows 10 on a personal computer using parametric and non-parametric methods of calculation. The study was conducted within the framework of the theme of search and initiative.
Results. According to the results of the survey among students of 7th to 10th grades, the majority (56.32%) had a low risk of developing eating disorders, while only 26.44% were characterized by a high risk. Students of the Lyceum No. 4 in Chornomorsk showed the highest probability of being at high risk of eating disorders, especially among 8th graders. On the contrary, students of the municipal institution "Secondary school No. 7 named after O. Sukhomovsky" in Vinnytsia and the college No. 11 in Chernihiv were characterized by a low risk of developing eating disorders. The analysis of the obtained data with regard to gender aspects showed that among the 49 respondents at risk of developing an eating disorder, 34 (69.4%) were female and 15 (30.6%) were male. These results indicate a pronounced gender differentiation in susceptibility to eating disorders, which correlates with the known data on the higher prevalence of these disorders among women.Conclusions. The health of children and adolescents can be improved by establishing regular screening, improving diagnostic sensitivity, and raising awareness of eating disorders. To assess the risk of developing eating disorders in children, it is recommended to use the SCOFF screening questionnaires and the EAT-26 test. Among students of 7th-10th grades in Chornomorsk, Vinnytsia and Chernihiv, 26.44% of children were characterized as being at high risk for eating disorders. According to the results of the survey among students of the Vinnytsia National Medical University on the level of awareness of eating disorders, it was found that the vast majority (75%) of senior students demonstrated a low level of competence in this area. While junior students (92.31%) had a high level of knowledge about eating disorders.