Disordered eating behaviors in youths with type 1 diabetes during COVID-19 lockdown: an exploratory study
Alda Troncone, Antonietta Chianese, Angela Zanfardino, Crescenzo Cascella, Alessia Piscopo, Anna Borriello, Serena Rollato, Francesca Casaburo, Veronica Testa, Dario Iafusco
Abstract
Abstract Background Recent research indicates that patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at higher risk for disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) than their peers without diabetes. The present study aimed to explore the prevalence of DEBs in a sample of Italian children and adolescents with T1D and in matched-pair healthy controls during the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods In a cross-sectional study, 138 children and adolescents with T1D (aged 8.01–19.11 years, 65 boys) attending a Southern Italian diabetic service and 276 age- and gender-matched healthy peers voluntarily completed an online survey about eating behaviors (ChEAT and EAT-26), anthropometric characteristics, and clinical characteristics. Results 8.69% ( N = 12) of participants with T1D and 13.4% ( N = 37) of controls had ChEAT/EAT-26 scores indicating presence of DEBs, with no differences between patients—whether children (total ChEAT score F(1, 157) = .104, p = .748) or adolescents (total EAT-26 score F(1, 255) = .135, p = .731)—and healthy peers. zBMI values were lower than those measured in the latest diabetes visit ( p < .0001), while HbA1c values remained unchanged ( p = .110). In both groups, adolescents had lower Oral Control scores than children (T1D: F(1, 138) = 20.411, p < .0001, η 2 = .132, controls: F(1, 276) = 18.271, p < .0001, η 2 = .063); additionally, gender (female) and age were found to be significant predictors of several ChEAT/EAT-26 scores. Conclusions This exploratory study suggested that children and adolescents with T1D did not experience more DEB symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown compared to healthy controls. Results revealed DEBs as more of a female adolescent developmental issue rather than a result of the challenges of living with a chronic illness under quarantine measures. Possible effects of parental pressure on their children’s eating behaviors in the context of home confinement and of using a non-diabetes-specific measure to assess DEBs are discussed.