Endocrine Abstracts

Objectives: Diabetes and obesity – Translational cardiovascular and obesityData 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 and, specifically binge eating disorder (BED), in a T2DM sample. To analyse whether there are any differences among T2DM subjects with a positive screening for ED or BED.

Research design and methods: 320 subjects with T2DM were recruited randomly. All participants were evaluated for the presence of ED by completing the ‘Eating Attitudes Test-26’ (EAT26). 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.

Results: According to EAT26, 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 EAT26 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/m²; 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 years 33% vs 21%; P=0.01).

Conclusions: ED among T2DM are frequent. Due to its deleterious effect on different metabolic and psychological outcomes, they should be diagnosed promptly, especially BED.