The prevalence of eating disorders in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis

Abstract

This study examines the hypothesis of an association between adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and eating disorders (EDs). A population of young females affected by AIS has been interviewed for a possible diagnosis of EDs. The proportion of individuals with EDs resulted significantly larger than normative epidemiological data: Prevalences were 9.2% for anorexia nervosa (AN), 7.7% for bulimia nervosa (BN) and 5.3% for eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS). The relationship between EDs and AIS was further tested through a second analysis. Severity of the rachides pathology was correlated with the presence of AN. Our study supports the hypothesis of a comorbidity between AIS and EDs: Some possible clinical explanations for this association are discussed.