Introduction Eating disorders (EDs) refer to a group of conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits. They involve either insufficient or excessive food intake that is detrimental to an individual’s physical and emotional health. (1,2) EDs are among the potentially lethal psychiatric illnesses, and are predominately represented by a mental effect of preoccupation with body weight, shape and diet. In addition, eating disorders frequently occur with other psychiatric disorders such as depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders. However, the exact cause of eating disorders is unknown; it is believed to be due to a combination of biological, psychological and/or environmental abnormalities. A common phrase in such conditions is that “Genetics loads the gun, environment pulls the trigger”. (3) Various studies have reported prevalence of eating disorders. In western countries, the population-based and clinical-based assessments have reported prevalence of anorexia nervosa (AN) to range from 0.1%-5.7%, while bulimia nervosa (BN) ranged from
…show more content…
The EAT-26 items form three subscales: 1)Dieting, 2) Bulimia and Food Preoccupation, and 3) Oral Control. The subscale scores are computed by summing all items assigned to that particular scale. On all items, each answer by “always” is scored as 3, “usually” is scored as 2, “”often is scored as 1 and answers by “sometimes” or “rarely” or “never “are scored as 0, except for one item (no.26) where the scoring is reversed. The questionnaire also include four additional behavioral questions that assess self-reported binge eating, self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives or diuretics and treatment of an ED. The total EAT-26 score is determined by summing all the responses to items from 1-26 that range from zero to
The EAT-26 items form three subscales: 1)Dieting, 2) Bulimia and Food Preoccupation, and 3) Oral Control. The subscale scores are computed by summing all items assigned to that particular scale. On all items, each answer by “always” is scored as 3, “usually” is scored as 2, “”often is scored as 1 and answers by “sometimes” or “rarely” or “never “are scored as 0, except for one item (no.26) where the scoring is reversed. The questionnaire also include four additional behavioral questions that assess self-reported binge eating, self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives or diuretics and treatment of an ED. The total EAT-26 score is determined by summing all the responses to items from 1-26 that range from zero to