• Renato Nisihara, Ana Clara Maier Techy, Carolina Staichok, Thais Carolini Roth, Grácia Furiatti de Biassio, Luani Risso Cardoso, and KotzeLorete Maria da SilvaLMDS0000-0003-2683-6132Universidade Federal do Paraná, Clinical Hospital - Curitiba (PR), Brazil..
• Universidade Positivo, Department of Medicine - Curitiba (PR), Brazil.
• Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2024 Jan 1; 70 (1): e20231090e20231090.

IntroductionCeliac disease is a chronic immune-mediated disease, which is triggered and maintained by gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. Eating disorders are a persistent disturbance in eating-related behavior that results in altered food consumption or absorption and that significantly impairs physical health or psychosocial functioning.ObjectiveThis study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of eating disorders in Brazilian celiac patients.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted as online survey including adult celiac patients who agreed to participate and a paired control health group. Questionnaires included questions about socioeconomic data and celiac disease diagnosis, and a validated questionnaire about eating disorders (Eating Attitudes Test-26.ResultsIn total, 741 responses were studied, with 484 from the celiac group and 257 from the control group. No significant difference was observed between the number of individuals at risk of developing eating disorder (p=0.39). Both groups showed a high risk of developing eating disorders (34.2% in the celiac group and 37.7% in the control group). Furthermore, among patients with celiac disease, we found higher scores on the Eating Attitudes Test-26 in those with depression (p=0.0013), those with living difficulty due to the disease (p<0.0001), and those dissatisfied with their weight (p<0.0001).ConclusionIn the sample analyzed, no greater risk of eating disorders was identified in patients with celiac disease compared with the control group. However, in general, about one-third of the respondents in each group had scores associated with the risk of eating disorders. Among celiac patients, depression, difficulties living with celiac disease, and being unhappy with one's weight were associated with higher risk for eating disorder.

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