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. 2023 Aug;35(8):e14584.
doi: 10.1111/nmo.14584. Epub 2023 Mar 29.

Disordered eating and eating competence in members of online irritable bowel syndrome support groups

Kate M Evans  1 , Michelle M Averill  2 , Cristen L Harris  3
Affiliations

Disordered eating and eating competence in members of online irritable bowel syndrome support groups

Kate M Evans et al. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2023 Aug.

Abstract

Background: This study seeks to evaluate eating competence and disordered eating likelihood among members of online support groups for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and determine whether eating competence and disordered eating likelihood varies according to IBS symptom severity and subtype.

Methods: This cross-sectional study is based on an anonymous survey conducted from August to September 2021. Adults with IBS (N = 225) were recruited from online and social media IBS support forums. IBS symptom severity was assessed using the validated IBS Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS), likelihood of disordered eating was assessed using the validated Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), and eating competence was assessed using the validated Satter Eating Competence Inventory (ecSI 2.0™). Multiple linear regression was used to predict EAT-26 total score from IBS-SSS score, age, and IBS subtype. ANOVAs were used to examine the relationships between IBS severity level, IBS subtype, and ecSI 2.0™ total score.

Key results: Eating competence among the sample was low at 17% while 27% was classified as likely or very likely disordered eating. IBS severity was positively associated with EAT-26 score (p = 0.011) and ecSI 2.0™ score was significantly lower in the severe IBS group compared to the moderate IBS group (p = 0.016). No relationship was detected between IBS subtype and EAT-26 or ecSI 2.0™ scores.

Conclusions & inferences: IBS severity was positively associated with disordered eating likelihood and negatively associated with eating competence. This sheds light on the importance of assessing eating competence and screening for disordered eating prior to selecting therapies for patients with IBS, particularly in females with severe symptoms.

Keywords: IBS; cross-sectional survey; eating attitudes; eating competence; eating disorders; irritable bowel syndrome.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures

Cristen L. Harris is a volunteer faculty member of the Ellyn Satter Institute and receives honoraria for special projects. No other potential conflicts of interest are reported by the authors.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Mean ecSI 2.0™ score by IBS severity level and IBS subtype 1. IBS-D = IBS with predominant diarrhea; IBS-C = IBS with predominant constipation; Unknown includes participants who selected no subtypes, multiple subtypes, or IBS-A. *Statistically significant difference between moderate group and severe group, analyzed using two-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post-test (p=.016).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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