Early detection of anorexia in adolescence

Abstract

Background: in adolescence, many young people have alterations in their eating behaviors, caused by different causes such as unhealthy diets, poor nutrition or following beauty stereotypes implanted in society as standards of acceptance. Aim: to describe the behaviors and attitudes presented by adolescents of the Millennium Educational Unit compatible with anorexia. Methods: a descriptive, cross-sectional and prospective study was conducted, the sample included 140 students. Results: in relation to the concern about dieting, 43,6 % of the respondents indicated that they have never proposed to go on a diet. 42,9 % indicate that they have never thought about the calories they are consuming, and 40,7 % indicate that on some occasion in their dietary intake they have thought about the appropriate amount of calories consumed. The majority of the students surveyed do not have an eating disorder, however, 20,7 % on some occasion did feel the need to vomit their food due to some influential factor in their eating. 52,9 % indicate that they never spend much time thinking about and dealing with food. Finally, 58,6 % indicate that they always enjoy and try new foods. Conclusion: the factors that influence the development of anorexia such as poor diet and scarce healthy eating programs do not occur, since students demonstrate to be informed about what eating disorders are and also have a correct diet in more of the surveyed population.