Knowledge and attitudes about eating disorders in the community

Poremećaji prehrane, a u određenoj mjeri i problemi s hranjenjem (dijeta, prejedanje) javljaju se u prijelaznom razdoblju adolescencije i tijekom prijelaza iz adolescencije prema ranoj odrasloj dobi. Poremećaji hranjenja su karakterizirani s teškim smetnjama u prehrambenim navikama i ponašanju, a definiraju se kao kronično samoinicijativno izgladnjivanje ili prejedanje. Općenito, poremećaje hranjenja karakterizira pretjerana zabrinutost i usmjerenost pojedinca na kontrolu oblika i težine tijela, a popraćena je neprimjerenim, neredovitim ili kaotičnim unosom hrane. Najpoznatiji poremećaji hranjenja današnjice (uz problem gojaznosti) su anoreksija i bulimija. Kako poremećaje u prehrani karakteriziraju zdravstvene poteškoće koje nerijetko zahtijevaju hospitalizaciju, važno ih je znati prepoznati, na vrijeme uočiti i pravovremeno reagirati. Čovjekovo zdravlje, kreativnost, efikasnost i raspoloženje direktno su vezani načinom ishrane koji svakodnevno primjenjuje. Pravilna i zdrava ishrana pomaže pojedincu da se lakše suoči sa životnim teškoćama i da se zaštiti od mnogobrojnih fizičkih i psihičkih bolesti. Tijekom izrade završnog rada provedeno je istraživanje putem društvenih mreža u razdoblju svibanj/lipanj 2020. godine. Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi znanje i stavove zajednice o poremećajima prehrane. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo ukupno 120 ispitanika, 76,7% žena i 23,3% muškaraca. Rezultati istraživanja su pokazali da ispitanici imaju visoku razinu znanja o poremećaju prehrane. Medicinske sestre trebale bi aktivno sudjelovati u prevenciji poremećaja prehrane kroz edukaciju populacije različite dobi te liječenju oboljelih, njihovih problema i potreba, te poticanja na njihovo aktivno sudjelovanje u samom procesu liječenja. Uloga medicinske sestre očituje se i u pomoći pri savjetovanju obitelji kako se ponašati prema oboljeloj osobi. Daljnja istraživanja kojima se prate već oboljeli od potvrđivanja dijagnoze do izlječenja omogućila bi bolje razumijevanje razvoja i tijeka bolesti. Istraživanja rizičnih faktora trebala bi biti fokusirana na obiteljske odnose i utjecaj obitelji na adolescente u razvoju, utjecaj medija, te utjecaj školskog okruženja.Eating disorders, as well as diet problems to some extent (diets, overeating) occur in the transitional period of adolescence and during transition from adolescence to early adult age. Eating disorders are characterized by severe disturbances in eating habits and behavior, while these are defined as chronic self-imposed starvation or overeating. In general, eating disorders are associated with exaggerated concern and focus of an individual on the control over the shape and weight of the body, which is accompanied with unsuitable, irregular or chaotic intake of food. Best known eating disorders nowadays (along with the problem of obesity) are anorexia and bulimia. Since eating disorders are accompanied with health difficulties which often demand hospitalization, it is important to recognize them, spot them on time and react timely. Person’s health, creativity, efficiency and mood are directly connected to the diet on a daily basis. Proper and healthy diet helps an individual to face life difficulties easier and to protect themselves from many physical and psychological illnesses. While doing this thesis, a research was conducted by using social networks in the period of May/June 2020. The aim of the research was to determine the knowledge and views of the community on the topic of eating disorders. In the research there were 120 participants, out of which 76.7% were women and 23.3% were men. The results of the research showed that the subjects have high level of knowledge about eating disorders. Nurses should actively participate in the prevention of eating disorders through the education of the population of various ages and treating sick individuals, their problems and needs, as well as encouraging their active involvement in the process of treatment. The role of a nurse is also seen in the counseling assistance for the family on how to treat the sick person. Further researches that monitor the sick from the diagnosis to the healing could provide better understanding of the development and the process of the disease. The researches of the risk factors should be focused on family relationships and the influence of the family on adolescents in development, as well as media influence and the impact of school environment