Claudia Unikel-Santoncini

Validación de un cuestionario breve para medir conductas alimentarias de riesgo

Objective. To assess the validity and reliability of a questionnaire for the screening of risk eating behaviors. Material and Methods. The questionnaire was applied to female high school students in Mexico City in October2002, as well as to a sample of eating disorder patients seen at the Eating Disorders Unit of the National Institute of Psychiatry between September and December 2002. Statistical methods included internal consistency analysis (Cronbach’s alpha) and factor and principal component analysis with oblique rotation. The cutoff point, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the questionnaire were determined using 2 x 2 tables. Results. The questionnaire showed a high reliability (·=0.83) and a three-factor structure with 64.7% of the total explained variance. A discriminant analysis showed that almost 90% of cases were correctly classified. Conclusions. This questionnaire is reliable and valid for assessing risk eating behaviors in the study population. The English version of this paper is available at: http:// www.insp.mx/salud/46/eng

Prevalence of abnormal eating behaviors in adolescents in Mexico: Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2006

OBJECTIVE To describe the prevalence of abnormal eating behaviors in a population-based nationwide survey. MATERIAL AND METHODS A stratified, probabilistic, multistage design sampling process was used. The Brief Questionnaire for Risky Eating Behaviors was included in the Mexican Health and Nutrition Survey 2006 (ENSANUT 2006) and administered to participants 10-19 years old (n= 25 166). The study had the power to describe nationwide characteristics by age, regions and urban/rural settings. RESULTS A high risk for having an eating disorder was found in 0.8% of the total participants (0.4% male adolescents and 1.0% female). Inhabitants in large cities showed higher risk for having an abnormal eating behavior compared to subjects living in other settings. The highest prevalences were found in males > 15 years old and females > 13 years old for all evaluated behaviors. CONCLUSIONS Results show less prevalence of risky eating behaviors among adolescents in comparison to other populations. The female/male ratio was 3:1, far different from the 9:1 shown in a previous study in Mexico City, but similar to results from the US national eating disorders screening.

Exactitud del autorreporte de peso y talla en mujeres de 15 a 19 años del Estado de México

OBJETIVO:Conocer la exactitud del autorreporte del peso y la talla en mujeres adolescentes de 15 a 19 anos en funcion de la edad, el nivel de marginacion, la intensidad de migracion de las localidades y la escolaridad del padre. MATERIAL Y METODOS:Se obtuvo una muestra representativa de mujeres estudiantes en escuelas publicas de nivel medio superior en el Estado de Mexico (N=2 357) a quienes se les solicito el dato por autorreporte del peso y la estatura y luego se las midio y peso. Los datos se recopilaron durante los meses de enero a abril de 2007. RESULTADOS:Las adolescentes sobrestimaron su estatura de manera no significativa y subestimaron en grado significativo su peso, con tendencias similares al analizar por edad, nivel de marginacion, intensidad de migracion y escolaridad del padre. CONCLUSIONES:Los resultados muestran la validez del autorreporte de la estatura, mas no del peso corporal en esta muestra.

Variables associated with disordered eating behaviors among freshman students from Mexico City

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors (DEB) and identify their associations with demographic and psychological variables among freshman students at a public university in Mexico City. Materials and methods: A sample of 892 subjects participated in the study. Bivariate and multinomial models were performed to determine associations between DEB and covariates. Results: Of those surveyed, 6.8% of the women and 4.1% of the men exhibited DEB (p<0.05). The variables increasing the risk of eating disorders (ED) for women were internalization of the aesthetic thin ideal (IATI), body mass index (BMI), self-esteem and physical activity, while for men they were IATI, drive for muscularity, and self-esteem. Conclusions: The frequency of DEB among women and men and the internalization of the thin ideal in both sexes suggest the possibility of a change in the precursor conditions for eating disorders, particularly for men, who exhibit increased risk of such behaviors.