Malestar psicológico en mujeres con obesidad con y sin riesgo de trastorno alimentario

The World Health Organization raises that the incidence and prevalence of obesity rates are reaching alarming levels in most countries. This disease has important physical, psychological and social consequences. One of the most common complications in obesity treatment is that it usually co-exists with eating disorders and intense psychological distress. Previous studies have compared obese patients at risk and non-risk for eating disorder, showing that obese patients at risk have higher levels of psychological distress compared to those who are only obese. The aim of the study is to identify risk of eating disorder (such as Binge Eating Disorder, Bulimia Nervosa and Night Eating Syndrome) and then compare psychological distress in obese patients at risk and non-risk for eating disorder. The opportunity sample included 65 obese women (according to World Health Organization criteria) aged 18 to 65 from Buenos Aires. Patients were in the initial stage of obesity treatment. They voluntarily completed the three subscales of risk of Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3) and the Symptoms Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90). Two groups were formed: patients at risk for eating disorder (RED group) and patients at non-risk for eating disorder (NRED group). The 50.8% of the sample was at risk for eating disorder. Both groups were compared with respect to psychological distress and significant differences were found in all sub-scales of SCL-90-R as well as in the Global Severity Index. The high percentage of risk of eating disorder in obese women is striking. Eating disorders and psychological distress could interfere in treatment as well as affect seriously quality of life of obese patients. Also, high levels of psychological distress in obese patients that present risk of eating disorder indicate the need of specific treatment that includes these factors.