Disordered eating behaviors and predictors in youth with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease

Data on Disordered Eating Behaviors (DEBs) occurrence in cohorts with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and Celiac Disease (CD) are very few and somehow conflicting. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of DEBs in T1D + CD and T1D individuals, and to identify the main predictors. An observational case-control study was conducted comparing subjects aged 8-18 years with T1D and CD (n = 66) with those with T1D only (n = 84). The first group reported a prevalence of DEBs of 42.4%, compared to 9.5% of subjects with T1D only (<0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that being male, having a higher BMI z-score and being in the pre- or early pubertal status gave a higher probability of presenting a ChEAT total score >20 in both groups. These findings suggest that T1D + CD patients are more likely to develop DEBs. Furthermore, personalized care plans are needed to prevent DEBs in T1D + CD patients.