RESTRAINED EATING BEHAVIOR, ANOREXIA NERVOSA AND FOOD CONSUMPTION BETWEEN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: A SCOPING REVIEW.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) and restrained eating behavior (REB) are characterized by reduced food intake to achieve body weight loss. This scope review aimed to describe the existing evidence on the association between anorexia nervosa, restrictive eating behavior and food consumption. Studies with children and adolescents of both sexes of all races and ethnicities were included. Experimental and observational studies, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, case reports or series, conference abstracts, dissertations and theses were also included. The search was conducted in ten electronic databases and gray literature without language restriction on November 14, 2020. Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies included girls and identified lower intake of calories, fat and certain micronutrients. There was also a higher intake of caffeine, fiber, vegetables, legumes and fruits and a lower intake of low-quality snack, fast food, sweets and foods with high carbohydrate and fat contents. The need to improve the quality of the diet among study participants was also identified. Thus, it is recommended that the evaluation of food consumption be careful to develop effective prevention strategies for the development of AN/REB and minimize nutritional deficiencies in these individuals.