Idiopathic intracranial hypertension increases risk of disordered eating in youth: Study

A group of researchers from Israel conducted a study to assess the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) in young individuals with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and to identify predictors of DEBs in this population.

Individuals with intracranial hypertension (IIH) aged eight to 25 years and their matched controls responded to a self-rating survey comprised of the Eating Attitude Test-26 for assessing the presence of disordered eating behaviours (DEBs) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale.

The results of the study are as follows:

· Fifty-three subjects with intracranial hypertension (IIH) and 106 healthy controls were included. disordered eating behaviours (DEBs) were significantly more prevalent in individuals with intracranial hypertension (IIH).

· Individuals with intracranial hypertension (IIH) and disordered eating behaviours (DEBs) were more likely to have longer periods of treatment and to have lost a significant amount of weight during the course of treatment.

· Depression, anxiety, and stress were more prevalent in the intracranial hypertension (IIH) group than in the controls and were associated with disordered eating behaviours (DEBs) in these individuals.

"Caregivers should have increased awareness and implement active screening of [disordered eating behaviors] both at the time of the initial management and as part of the ongoing follow-up," the authors wrote.

Thus, the researchers concluded that there is an increased prevalence of DEBs among young individuals with IIH, which persists even after disease resolution, and is associated with higher reported rates of depression, anxiety, and stress. Medical caregivers should have heightened awareness to DEBs in individuals with IIH with the aim of early identification and intervention.

Reference:

Disordered Eating Behaviors in Young Individuals With Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension by Itay Tokatly Latzer et. al published in the Pediatric Neurology.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2021.08.006