P142 | Binge eating disorder in health professions and perceived work-related stress: a cross-sectional study

Premises and Purpose of the study: Binge eating disorder (BED) is characterized by recurrent episodes of short-lived binge eating. Etiopathogenesis includes psychological and related stress variables. Several studies investigated BED in different populations but there is no evidence among health professions. Thus, the aim of the study was to evaluate the relation between the risk of developing BED and perceived work-related stress. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June 2023 among a sample of health professions. The questionnaire used for data collection consisted of 39 items divided into three sections: (I) socio-demographic data; (II) questions about perceived work-related stress; (III) Binge Eating Scale (BES).Results: Among 312 participants, 9.3% and 5.1% reported moderate and severe BED’ symptoms respectively. Higher BES scores were significantly correlated with “I’m exhausted from work” (r=0.250, p<0.001) and with “Frontline healthcare creates tension” (r=0.207, p<0.001). Feeling stressed and anxious was correlated with “Work-related stress affects one’s eating habits” (r=0.285, p<0.001) and with “I take breaks from work to eat” (r=0.434, p=0.003). Conclusions: Health professionals working in stressful conditions can develop BED. Based on the results of this study, health organizations should plan and develop interventions tailored to manage work-related stress and to encourage proper eating habits also in the workplace.