Background and aims: There are contradictory findings on time changes in the prevalence
of eating disorders (EDs). The first epidemiological studies in Hungary were carried
out in the late 1980s. The objective of the present study was to follow the changes
in the prevalence of EDs in medical students after a period of 22 years. Methods:
A questionnaire survey was conducted in 1989 and in 2010. The sample comprised medical
students: 538 subjects (248 males and 290 females) in 1989 and 969 subjects
(261 males and 708 females) in 2010. The questionnaire contained sociodemographic
and anthropometric items, the Eating Behaviour Severity Scale, the General Health
Questionnaire, the Anorexia Nervosa Inventory for Self-Rating, and the Eating Disorder
Inventory (EDI). In the second wave, three subscales of the EDI-2 and the SCOFF questionnaire
were added. Results: Current and desired body mass index were significantly higher
in the second study. Binge eating at least once a week was reported less frequently
(2.7% vs 6.8% in males, 6.1% vs 13% in females) in 2010. The proportion of subclinical
anorexia nervosa was higher among females in 2011 (2.5% vs 0.3%, P < 0.01). Among
males, the proportion of counterregulatory behaviours increased significantly (from
8.9 to 14.6%). Discussion and conclusions: The increase of the proportion of subclinical
anorexia nervosa and that of male EDs may relate to the
importance of the changes in the sociocultural background. Further representative
studies are proposed in other countries of Central and Eastern Europe among medical
students and in the general population.
