Abstract Disordered eating (DE) is common among patients attending primary health care settings. However, the prevalence of DE among patients who receive care in nutrition practice settings has yet to be estimated. We aimed to determine the prevalence of DE and its correlates among outpatients in a nutrition service. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a convenience sample of outpatients ( N = 502) who received care from 2022 to 2024 at the Nutrition Care Offices, which is a university nutrition service in Mexico City. A screening questionnaire was created to identify DE. Items were derived from existing DE screening tools and patients’ experiences. Linear regression models were estimated, with the outcomes being the three indicators of DE (negative body image, binge eating-compensation, and exercise as a negative experience). The most common DE behaviours and cognitions were feeling uncomfortable or insecure about their body fat (74.7%), feeling ashamed of their weight (57.6%), feeling uncomfortable or insecure about their muscles (57.2%), feeling bad when their weight is measured (54.0%), and feeling they have lost control of what they eat (51.0%). Binge eating-compensation and negative body image scores were higher among women, younger individuals, those with higher body weight, and those with very light or light leisure-time physical activity (PA). The practice of leisure-time PA was positively associated with exercise as a negative experience but negatively related to negative body image. Our findings suggest that DE is a problem that arises recurrently in weight-related nutrition consultations. Higher risk groups deserved special attention.
Ortiz-Hernández et al. (Thu,) studied this question.