TY - JOUR

T1 - Gender differences in disordered eating behaviors and body dissatisfaction among adolescents with type 1 diabetes

T2 - Results from diabetes MILES youth - Australia

AU - Araia, E

AU - Hendrieckx, Crystal

AU - Skinner, Timothy Charles

AU - Pouwer, Frans

AU - Speight, Jane

AU - King, R

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - ObjectiveTo examine gender differences in disordered eating behaviors (DEB) and body dissatisfaction in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. While evidence shows that female youth with type 1 diabetes are more prone to DEB compared to their peers without diabetes, little is known about male adolescents.MethodIn a national online survey, adolescents (13–19 years) with type 1 diabetes for ≥1 year completed the Diabetes Eating Problem Survey‐Revised (DEPS‐R), and the Body Mass Index Silhouette Matching Test (BMI‐SMT) and items on binge eating and insulin omission.ResultsAbout 477 adolescents (mean age 16 years; 62% females) completed the DEPS‐R and 431 the BMI‐SMT. The DEPS‐R total score was higher for females than males, with scores for females increasing with age. BMI, HbA1c, insulin omission, and binge‐eating frequency were associated moderately with DEPS‐R for both genders. On the BMI‐SMT, 88% of females wanted to be thinner. Of the males, 76% reported body dissatisfaction; however, only 43% expressed a desire for thinness with the remainder desiring a larger body size. DEPS‐R was positively associated with the discrepancy between perceived actual and ideal body size for both genders.DiscussionA large proportion of adolescents with type 1 diabetes, particularly females reported engaging in DEB. Similarly, high rates of body dissatisfaction were reported, though ideal body shape preferences differed by gender. Given the high levels of self‐reported DEB and gender‐based patterns of body dissatisfaction, future research needs to examine the effectiveness of routine screening of DEB and consider implementation of stepped care approaches.

AB - ObjectiveTo examine gender differences in disordered eating behaviors (DEB) and body dissatisfaction in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. While evidence shows that female youth with type 1 diabetes are more prone to DEB compared to their peers without diabetes, little is known about male adolescents.MethodIn a national online survey, adolescents (13–19 years) with type 1 diabetes for ≥1 year completed the Diabetes Eating Problem Survey‐Revised (DEPS‐R), and the Body Mass Index Silhouette Matching Test (BMI‐SMT) and items on binge eating and insulin omission.ResultsAbout 477 adolescents (mean age 16 years; 62% females) completed the DEPS‐R and 431 the BMI‐SMT. The DEPS‐R total score was higher for females than males, with scores for females increasing with age. BMI, HbA1c, insulin omission, and binge‐eating frequency were associated moderately with DEPS‐R for both genders. On the BMI‐SMT, 88% of females wanted to be thinner. Of the males, 76% reported body dissatisfaction; however, only 43% expressed a desire for thinness with the remainder desiring a larger body size. DEPS‐R was positively associated with the discrepancy between perceived actual and ideal body size for both genders.DiscussionA large proportion of adolescents with type 1 diabetes, particularly females reported engaging in DEB. Similarly, high rates of body dissatisfaction were reported, though ideal body shape preferences differed by gender. Given the high levels of self‐reported DEB and gender‐based patterns of body dissatisfaction, future research needs to examine the effectiveness of routine screening of DEB and consider implementation of stepped care approaches.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - adolescents

KW - body dissatisfaction

KW - disordered eating behaviors

KW - type 1 diabetes

U2 - 10.1002/eat.22746

DO - 10.1002/eat.22746

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28856699

VL - 50

SP - 1183

EP - 1193

JO - International Journal of Eating Disorders

JF - International Journal of Eating Disorders

SN - 0276-3478

IS - 10

ER -