Eating disorders are frequent among type 2 diabetic patients and are associated with worse metabolic and psychological outcomes: results from a cross-sectional study in primary and secondary care…

Joana Nicolau, Rafael Simó, Pilar Sanchís, Luisa Ayala, Regina Fortuny, Ivana Zubillaga, Lluís Masmiquel

Data regarding the prevalence of eating disorders (ED) and their influence on clinical outcomes among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are scarce. Our aim is to investigate the frequency of positive screening for ED, specifically binge eating disorder (BED), in a T2DM sample and analyze whether there are any differences among T2DM subjects with a positive screening for ED or BED. Three hundred and twenty subjects with T2DM were recruited randomly. All participants were evaluated for the presence of ED by completing the "Eating Attitudes Test-26" (EAT-26). In addition, the "Questionnaire of Eating and Weight Patterns-Revised" (QEWP-R) for the screening of BED was also implemented. Sociodemographic, clinical and biochemical parameters were also recorded. According to EAT-26, 14 % of subjects screened positive for ED. Regarding QEWP-R, 16 % had a positive screening for ED, with BED having a frequency of 12.2 %, being the most prevalent one. There was a positive correlation between the scores obtained with the EAT-26 and the Beck Depression Inventory (p = 0.0014). Patients with BED were younger (57.5 ± 11.1 vs 63.3 ± 10.3 years; p = 0.004), with a lesser T2DM duration (8.5 ± 6.1 vs 12.1 ± 9.6 years; p = 0.002). Weight and BMI among subjects with BED were greater (89.1 ± 1.3 vs 82.4 ± 16.7 kg; p = 0.04 and 39.4 ± 10.3 vs 30.7 ± 5.5 kg/m(2); p = 0.01). The frequency of subjects with one admission related to T2DM or any other condition during the last year was higher (10 vs 3 %; p = 0.04 and 33 vs 21 %; p = 0.01). ED among T2DM are frequent. Due to their deleterious effect on different metabolic and psychological outcomes, they should be diagnosed promptly, especially BED.