Hidden Struggles: Disordered Eating and Food Insecurity in Young Adult Cancer Survivors

Background: Disordered eating behaviors (DEB) and food insecurity are major public health challenges with serious consequences, however evidence on cancer survivors is lacking. This cross-sectional study aimed at investigating the prevalence of DEB and food insecurity in young adult (YA) cancer survivors. Methods: YA cancer survivors (n=173), 18-39 years, completed the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), Binge Eating Scale, a 6-item US Household Food Security Survey, and a demographic questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were conducted. Results: Mean age was 33.7±5.6 years; 70.5% were White, 67.7% had a college degree or higher, and 43.4% had an income over $70,000. Common cancer types included breast (20.8%), lymphoma (18.5%), and leukemia (10.4%). Most patients were diagnosed at stage II (25.4%), and most common treatments were chemotherapy (67.1%) and surgery (59.0%). Mean BMI was 28.5±8.4 kg/m2. One third of individuals was highly concerned about their weight (20.2% very, 12.7% extremely). EAT-26 scores indicated 21.5% had DEB, BES scores showed 26.6% were at moderate to severe risk for binge eating disorder, and 28.3% experienced some food insecurity. Conclusion: This study reveals a high prevalence of DEB and food insecurity