Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Eating Disorders Screening in Adults with Celiac Disease in Morocco

Abstract

Background: Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune disease of the small intestine, related to gluten intolerance occurring in genetically predisposed patients. This study aimed to evaluate Mediterranean diet adherence, screen eating disorders and establish the relationship between Mediterranean diet and eating disorders.

Methods: This study included 81 adults with celiac disease, and 85 without celiac disease from Rabat-Sale-Kenitra hospitals between May 2022 and Nov 2022. The Mediterranean Diet Serving Score (MDSS) questionnaire was used to determine adherence to the Mediterranean diet and SCOFF questionnaire was used to screen eating disorders.

Results: The results showed a significant difference between the two groups in age (P=0.000), weight (P=0.041), height (P=0.000) and non-adherence to Mediterranean diet (P=0.032). Participants without celiac disease reported a significantly (P=0.032) lower adherence score to the Mediterranean diet (62.35%) than participants with celiac disease (29.62%). Additionally, the results of the Khi² test which revealed a significant association between MDSS and SCOFF (P=0.024). In addition, based on logistic regression the Mediterranean diet Serving Score was significantly associated with eating disorders (P=0.025) in adults with celiac disease, on the other hand, weight, height, BMI and MDSS were significantly associated with eating disorders in adults without celiac disease.

Conclusion: Our study showed good adherence to the Mediterranean diet by celiac adults so it can be assumed that the Mediterranean diet could have a protective effect against eating disorders in celiac patients.