Authors
- Klara Leskovar, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, Department of Physiotherapy, Rijeka, Croatia
Article type:
Original Scientific Paper
Abstract:
Complex disorders which refer both to the restriction or excessive food intake and to strict control and focus on one’s own bodyweight are called eating disorders. The number of patients suffering from eating disorders today is extremely high and tends to rise. Eating disorders include: anorexia (AN), bulimia (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), other specified feeding and eating disorders (OFSED) where atypical forms of eating disorders are classified, and unspecified feeding or eating disorder (UFED) where eating disorder criteria are not met by frequency of occurring. The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of eating disorder symptoms between Croatian and Slovenian students. By analyzing data collected by means of the EAT-26 test, completed by 200 Croatian and 200 Slovenian students, it was concluded that there is an equal number of students who were underweight and students who were treated or are treated for eating disorders. Also, the presence of eating disorder symptoms is equal in terms of the total test scores for Slovenian and Croatian students. However, in terms of answers to behavioral questions of the test, Slovenian students have a higher percentage of presence of eating disorder symptomatology. The conclusion is that among the surveyed students, based on behavioral questions, there are more students in Slovenia with the presence of symptoms of eating disorders compared to the students in Croatia.
Keywords:
eating disorders, symptomatology of eating disorders, Croatian students, Slovenian students, EAT-26 test