Evolución de los conocimientos acerca de los trastornos del comportamiento alimentario, a través de una intervención educativa en estudiantes de enseñanza post-obligatoria

Introduction: Although considered negligible events when compared to other food related pathologies, eating disorders are a public health problem because of its increasing incidence in certain countries. Most studies usually examine the factors that increase the risk of appearance in youth and adolescents of pre-morbid or morbid populations but there are less frequent studies on healthy and standard populations. Objectives: Evaluate the level of knowledge about eating disorders and educational intervention in youths that are assumed to be healthy. Methods: Interventional study and pre-and post-intervention assessment, through a 10 closed and open questions test previously validated in Physiotherapy, Childhood Education degrees and also students in vocational training of the hospitality industry. Results: 154 students responded to the initial questionnaire (85 university students and 39 students in Hospitality training cycle). The mean age was 20.8 years and they were mostly women (68%). Before intervention the students proved to have an average level of knowledge with higher levels in women and university students than the vocational training students. Risk factors and clinical manifestations were the least known aspects by the students. The educational intervention in the 35 Hospitality students who participated in the workshop and answered the questionnaire postintervention increased the level of knowledge and their results in post-intervention tests were better than those of the university students. Discussion and Conclusions: Although the intervention was effective in increasing the knowledge in most students, the post-intervention test results proved real necessity for education in the typical features of eating disorders. To upgrade the level of knowledge in health and nutrition matters, it is necessary include it in the curricular programmes of health, education and vocational training in the hospitality industry students.