Eating disorders: Detection in female and male adolescents in Buenos Aires. A two-stage study / Trastornos alimentarios: Detección en adolescentes mujeres y varones de Buenos Aires. Un estudio de doble fase
Authors: Rutsztein Guillermina , Murawski Brenda , Elizathe Luciana , Scappatura M. Luz 
Published: October 2021

Abstract. The aim of the study is to compare habits, behaviours and eating attitudes, as well as the degree of satisfaction with body image present in female and male students from high schools in Buenos Aires (Argentina). Also, to identify those adolescents who present eating disorders. A two-stage study was carried out with a sample conformed by 454 female and male students, between 13 and 18 years of age, from four high schools. In the first stage, the subjects voluntarily completed the following instruments: Sociodemographic and specific symptoms of eating disorders questionnaire, Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) and Contour Drawing Rating Scale (CDRS). In the second stage, a semi-structured interview based on Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) was conducted with each of those students identified like "probable cases", in order to confirm or not the presence of an eating disorder. When compared both groups, there was found a significantly higher proportion of female students that are unsatisfied with their body image, went on a diet the last year, and self-induced vomiting in order to maintain or lose weight. Female students show significantly higher scores in five subscales of EDI-2 (“Drive for thinness”, “Bulimia”, “Body dissatisfaction”, “Ineffectiveness” and “Interoceptive awareness”).However, male students show a significantly higher score in “Perfectionism”. Finally, it was determined that a significantly higher proportion of female students present some type of eating disorder: (14.1% vs. 2.9%). Key Words: Eating disorders, prevalence, Argentina, females/males Resumen. El presente estudio se propone comparar hábitos, conductas y actitudes alimentarias, así como grado de satisfacción con la imagen corporal que presentan mujeres y varones de escuelas medias de Buenos Aires (Argentina). También estimar la prevalencia de trastornos alimentarios. Se trata de un estudio de doble fase en el que participaron 454 estudiantes, mujeres y varones entre 13 y 18 años, provenientes de cuatro escuelas secundarias. En la primera fase, los participantes completaron voluntariamente los siguientes instrumentos: Cuestionario sociodemográfico y de sintomatología específica de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria, Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) y Contour Drawing Rating Scale (CDRS). En la segunda fase, se realizó una entrevista diagnóstica semiestructurada basada en el Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) con cada uno de aquellos estudiantes identificados como “probables casos”, con el fin de confirmar o no, la presencia de trastorno alimentario. Al comparar ambos grupos, se encontró que una proporción significativamente mayor de mujeres se encuentra insatisfecha con su imagen corporal, realizó dietas en el último año y se provoca vómitos con el fin de mantener o bajar de peso. Las mujeres presentaron puntajes significativamente mayores en cinco subescalas del EDI-2 (Búsqueda de delgadez, Bulimia, Insatisfacción con la imagen corporal, Ineficacia y Conciencia interoceptiva). En cambio, los hombres puntuaron significativamente más alto en Perfeccionismo. Finalmente, se determinó que una proporción significativamente mayor de mujeres presenta algún tipo de trastorno alimentario (14.1% vs. 2.9%). Palabras clave: Trastornos alimentarios, prevalencia, Argentina, mujeres/varones