PINEROS ORTIZ, Sandra; MOLANO CARO, Jenny    LOPEZ DE MESA, Clara. Risk Factors for Eating Disorders among School-Aged Young People in Cundinamarca (Colombia). []. , 39, 2, pp.313-328. ISSN 0034-7450.

Introduction: The early diagnosis of Eating Disorders (ED) is decisive in order to prevent serious complications during lifetime. In Colombia, few studies have assessed the clinical characteristics and comorbidity of ED in students. Objective: To determine the frecuency of ED, its onset and maintenance factors, as well as its clinical subtypes and comorbidity in student population. Method: Cross sectional and community based study with 937 students, ages 10 to 12, from Bogotá and Sabana Centro-Cundinamarca, who answered the EAT- 26, a survey on onset and maintenance factors for ED, and the Zung depression and anxiety scales. Results: 141 probable cases of ED were detected, predominantly among women (p<0.01). 38.3% of them accepted clinical psychiatric evaluation. ED was clinically diagnosed in 53.7% of the cases, without significant differences regarding socioeconomic level or age groups; subtype not otherwise specified in 93%. Comorbidity with depression and anxiety disorders was also found; similarly, suicidal behaviors were more frequent in adolescents with clinical diagnosis of ED than in those without psychiatric diagnosis or in those with other psychiatric disorders (p=0.019). Conclusions: ED occurs since early ages. Comorbidity with affective disorders and suicidality is high.

: trastornos de la conducta alimentaria; adolescente; comorbilidad; factores epidemiológicos; Eating disorders; adolescent; comorbidity; epidemiologic factors.

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