Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions characterized by inappropriate eating habits and behaviors related to food, which can lead to severe health issues. Although they are often associated with low body weight, research shows that they can also affect individuals with normal or increased body weight. Understanding the prevalence and impact of eating disorders in different populations is crucial for developing effective preventive and therapeutic approaches. This study focuses on the prevalence of eating disorders among participants in the "Healthy Weight Loss" program at the ZVC Šiška, which includes individuals with a BMI over 30 or over 27 with chronic non-communicable diseases. The results were obtained through an analysis of responses to a demographic questionnaire and the EDE-Q questionnaire, which covered eating behaviors, perfectionism, and health concerns, allowing for the identification of risks and symptoms of eating disorders among the participants of the "Healthy Weight Loss" program at ZVC Šiška. The program included 76 individuals, of whom 69 were women (90.8 %), indicating a higher susceptibility of women to such programs. Hypothesis 1 predicted that at least 50 % of the participants would exhibit signs of eating disorders. The study results confirmed this hypothesis, as the average score for the presence of behaviors associated with eating disorders was 2.25, indicating a moderate risk for eating disorders. It is essential to develop preventive measures and therapeutic interventions focused on psychological factors that influence eating habits. Hypothesis 2, which suggested that there would be the highest risk of orthorexia among participants, was partially confirmed, as participants frequently exhibited behavior associated with perfectionism, which could be an indicator of a tendency towards orthorexia. Perfectionism is linked to extreme eating habits and high expectations regarding body image, which can lead to orthorexia. The findings of this study highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to eating disorders in weight loss programs, including psychological support, nutritional counseling, and stress management for more effective prevention and management of these disorders.
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