Association between possible eating disorders and clinical factors in middle-aged Afro-descendant women
Asociación entre posible trastorno de la conducta alimentaria y factores clínicos en mujeres afrodescendientes de mediana edad
Álvaro Monterrosa-Castro, Virginia Romero-Gutiérrez, Angélica Monterrosa-Blanco, Raiza Díaz-Cortes
Abstract
Introduction: Eating disorders (EDs) are a group of entities that are characterized by a persistent alteration in behavior in the face of basic food needs, which cause alterations in the absorption of food and damages to physical health or psychosocial functioning. Although the DSM criteria are used for the diagnosis of EDs, screening with simple tools, such as the SCOFF scale, is recommended to identify people at risk and implement the necessary preventive measures. The objective was to determine the frequency of possible EDs and to establish their association with various clinical factors.
Material and methods: A cross-sectional study belonging to the research project Quality of life in menopause and Colombian ethnicities [CAVIMEC]. It was performed in women self-identified as Afro-descendants, with skin phototype V-VI and aged between 40-59 years. The SCOFF questionnaire was applied, a five-item tool that allows establishing the existence of possible EDs. Bivariate and adjusted logistic regression was performed, considering possible EDs as a dependent variable, clinical factors as independent variables, and as covariates: age, coffee consumption, and smoking.
Results: 420 women were studied, 22.8% postmenopausal and possible EDs in 130 (30.9%) of the participants. The following were associated with eating disorders: mood alterations with menstruation OR: 4.92 [95%CI: 2.60-9.32], more than one severe depressive episode OR: 4.81 [95%CI: 1.19-19.3], consultation with psychology OR: 4.11 [95%CI: 2.09-8.12], consultation with psychiatry OR: 3.73 [95%CI: 1.05-13.21], increased metabolic risk OR: 3.53 [95%CI: 2.09-5.95], abdominal hysterectomy: 3.19 [95%CI: 1.45-7.00], excessive sadness after childbirth OR: 3.15 [95%CI: 1.11-8.86], abdominal obesity OR: 3.14 [95%CI: 1.54-6.39], diabetes mellitus OR: 2.99 [95% CI: 1.56-5.72], obesity OR: 2.33 [95%CI: 1.26-3.94], postmenopause OR: 2.05 [95%CI: 1.25-3.37].
Conclusions: In a group of Afro-descendant women in middle age, it was found that one third had possible EDs. Several clinical factors were significantly associated with an increased chance of EDs.
Keywords
Resumen
Introducción: Los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (TCA) son un grupo de entidades que se caracterizan por una alteración persistente en el comportamiento ante las necesidades básicas alimentarias, lo que provoca alteración en la absorción de los alimentos y perjuicios en la salud física o el funcionamiento psicosocial. Si bien, para el diagnóstico de los TCA se utilizan los criterios del DSM, se recomienda el tamizaje con herramientas sencillas, como la escala SCOFF, para identificar a las personas en riesgo e implementar las medidas preventivas necesarias. El objetivo fue determinar la frecuencia de posible TCA y establecer su asociación con diversos factores clínicos.
Material y métodos: Estudio transversal perteneciente al proyecto de investigación Calidad de vida en la menopausia y las etnias colombianas [CAVIMEC]. Se realizó en mujeres auto reconocidas como afrodescendientes, con fototipo cutáneo V-VI y con edad entre 40-59 años. Se aplicó el cuestionario SCOFF, herramienta de cinco ítems que permite establecer la existencia de posible TCA. Se realizó regresión logística bivariada y ajustada, considerando posible TCA como variable dependiente, los factores clínicos como variables independientes y como covariables: la edad, el consumo de café y el hábito de fumar.
Resultados: Se estudiaron 420 mujeres. 22,8% posmenopáusica y posibles TCA en 130 (30,9%) de las participantes. Se asociaron a TCA: alteraciones del estado de ánimo con la menstruación OR: 4,92 [IC95%: 2,60-9,32], más de un episodio depresivo severo OR: 4,81 [IC95%: 1,19-19,3], consulta con psicología OR: 4,11 [IC95%: 2,09-8,12], consulta con psiquiatría OR: 3,73 [IC95%: 1,05-13,21], aumento del riesgo metabólico OR: 3,53 [IC95%: 2,09-5,95], histerectomía abdominal 3,19 [IC95%: 1,45-7,00], tristeza excesiva después del parto OR: 3,15 [IC95%: 1,11-8,86], obesidad abdominal OR: 3,14 [IC95%: 1,54-6,39], diabetes mellitus OR: 2,99 [IC95%: 1,56-5,72], obesidad OR: 2,33 [IC95%: 1,26-3,94], postmenopausia OR: 2,05 [IC95%: 1,25-3,37].
Conclusiones: En un grupo de mujeres afrodescendientes en la edad media de la vida, se encontró que un tercio presentaba posible TCA. Varios factores clínicos se asociaron significativamente con una mayor posibilidad de TCA.
Palabras clave
References
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Submitted date:
07/23/2025
Reviewed date:
10/16/2025
Accepted date:
11/13/2025
Publication date:
11/25/2025
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