WIP 63 - Survey of Disordered Eating Behaviors in Resident Physicians

Publication Number: WIP 63.7562

Maisha Z. Khan, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, United States; Aparna Sethumadhavan, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Rebecca Carter, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States

Background: Physicians, including those in training, have increased risk of mood disorders, (Medisauskaite et al), and those with mood disorders have increased risk of co-morbid eating disorders (Verma et al). This suggests resident physicians are at increased risk for disordered eating and eating disorders. There are limited data regarding rates of eating disorders in US resident physicians; despite some evidence of elevated eating disorder rates in medical students (Goto et al).
Additionally, there is notable variability between residents, the differences in lifestyle between a surgical and pediatric resident, for instance, with further variability between training years. Thus, stratified data by specialty, lifestyle, and post-graduate year will identify nuances and risk profiles to optimize trainee disordered eating interventions.

Objective: The study aims to better understand disordered eating prevalence in resident physicians and identify barriers to healthy eating in this group. With these data, the goal is to develop interventions for early career physicians and their ability to provide quality care.

Design/Methods: An observational survey assessing disordered eating behaviors and co-morbid mood disorders was adapted from DSM-5 eating disorder diagnostic criteria and validated screens (PHQ2 and GAD7). Self-reported barriers to healthy eating were also surveyed. Residents at a large, urban academic center were surveyed; Anesthesia, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Combined Medicine-Pediatrics, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, and Pediatric residents were the initial respondent cohort.
Analysis will have sub-group stratification of findings by training year, program, and mood disorder symptoms. Data collection closed in October 2024, with analysis completion expected by January 2025, followed by data presentation to programs and intervention development.
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) deemed the study exempt from IRB approval. Participation was voluntary after informed consent, confidential, with participants given support resources pending formal intervention programs.