Exploring the Extent and Nature of Disordered Eating Among Canadian Adolescents and Young Adults With Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.
Revi Bonder, Shauna Beaudoin, Lorry Chen and 5 others
PMID 39910982WHAT IT FOUND
Most adolescents and young adults with spina bifida and hydrocephalus in this survey felt pressure to lose weight.
This pressure came from clinicians and parents, but also from managing bowel function and mobility. Restricting food was common even when the goal was functional, not cosmetic.
Key findings
01Seventy-two percent of participants felt pressure to change their weight, and nearly all of those (92%) wanted to decrease it, with most subsequently reducing food intake.
02Participants reported altering food intake for functional reasons specific to their condition, including improving bowel function (n=3), mobility (n=6), and skin integrity (n=3), alongside advice from healthcare providers and parents.
03Over half of respondents felt their condition altered their body view negatively, describing feelings of insecurity and comparing themselves to able-bodied standards.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Very small sample size (n=18) limits the generalizability of findings and prevented statistical comparisons with other groups. The preliminary SBH-specific questionnaire was not validated, and its psychometric properties were not evaluated. Participants were predominantly female (78%), limiting insights into gender differences in disordered eating. Recruitment occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have affected participation rates and priorities. The cross-sectional design cannot establish causality between SBH factors and disordered eating behaviours.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that weight loss or food restriction in patients with SBH is solely driven by body image or cosmetic concerns. This study found that functional issues like bowel management and mobility were significant drivers, meaning standard weight-centric advice can inadvertently reinforce disordered eating patterns.