The prevalence of eating disorders in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis

Eat Disord. 2008 Jan-Feb;16(1):85-93. doi: 10.1080/10640260701773660.

Abstract

This study examines the hypothesis of an association between adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and eating disorders (EDs). A population of young females affected by AIS has been interviewed for a possible diagnosis of EDs. The proportion of individuals with EDs resulted significantly larger than normative epidemiological data: Prevalences were 9.2% for anorexia nervosa (AN), 7.7% for bulimia nervosa (BN) and 5.3% for eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS). The relationship between EDs and AIS was further tested through a second analysis. Severity of the rachides pathology was correlated with the presence of AN. Our study supports the hypothesis of a comorbidity between AIS and EDs: Some possible clinical explanations for this association are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Prevalence
  • Psychological Theory
  • Scoliosis / epidemiology*