TOP 24 - Survey of Disordered Eating in Resident Physicians

Publication Number: 1784.TOP 24

Maisha Z. Khan, University of Maryland Children's Hospital, Baltimore, MD, United States; Rebecca Carter, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Aparna Sethumadhavan, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States

Background: Physicians, including those in training, have an increased risk of mood disorders1, and those with mood disorders have increased co-morbid eating disorder risk2. This suggests resident physicians are at increased risk for disordered eating. There are limited data regarding rates of eating disorders in US resident physicians.
Additionally, there is variability between trainees, such as the differences in lifestyle between a surgical and pediatric resident, with further variability across training years. Thus stratified data by specialty, lifestyle, and training year may identify nuances and risk profiles to optimize trainee disordered eating interventions. Our previous pilot study screening for disordered eating behaviors in resident physicians found the majority of respondents experienced at least one disordered eating behavior as outlined by the DSM-5 in its diagnostic criteria for disordered eating and eating disorders.
[1] Medisauskaite, A.; Kamau, C. Does Occupational Distress Raise the Risk of Alcohol Use, Binge-Eating, Ill Health and Sleep Problems among Medical Doctors? A UK Cross-Sectional Study. BMJ Open 2019, 9 (5).
[2] Verma, R. P.; Nazzar, S.; Fogel, J.; Kupferman, F. Mental and Physical Health of Physicians Undergoing Postgraduate Training in the USA: A Single Center Study. International Journal of Medical Science and Current Research 2019, 2 (4), 10–17.

Objective: The current phase of study aims to evaluate if awareness of disordered eating and barriers to healthy eating correlate with improved disordered eating behaviors and perceived barriers to healthy eating.

Design/Methods: An observational survey assessing disordered eating behaviors and co-morbid mood disorders was adapted from validated disordered eating screening tools SCOFF and NIAS, plus mood disorder screening tools GAD7 and PHQ2. Also surveyed were self-reported barriers to healthy eating. Residents at a large, urban academic center were surveyed; Anesthesia, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Combined Medicine-Pediatrics, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Psychiatry, and Pediatric residents were the respondent cohort.
Analysis will have sub-group stratification by post-graduate year, program, sex, age and symptoms. Data collection will close in November 2025, with analysis completion expected by January 2026, followed by intervention and a repeat survey.
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) deemed the study exempt from IRB approval. Participation was voluntary after informed consent and confidential, with participants given support resources pending formal intervention.