Eating Disorders and Disturbed Eating Attitudes and Behaviors Typical in CF

Poor nutritional status in cystic fibrosis (CF) leads to poor health outcomes. There are a range of contributors to poor nutrition, and deliberate manipulation of food consumption is one of them. Although cases of diagnosable eating disorders are not identified at high rates, it has been consistently reported that people with CF engage in food avoidance and other practices to reduce weight gain. Attention has been paid to these practices, variously referred to as “subthreshold eating disorders” and “disturbed eating.” They have been documented in CF at high rates, sometimes higher than in the general population, with the suggestion that CF itself can stimulate such practices, as there is high emphasis placed on weight gain and fat consumption in the management of the condition. Recent attention has been paid to better identification and diagnosis of disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors in CF so that the multidisciplinary team can provide appropriate treatment interventions. These measures are discussed.