Relationship of physical activity of children and adolescents with the development of eating disorders

Poremećaji u prehrani jedna su od najčešćih mentalnih bolesti među djecom i adolescentima, te predstavljaju najveću stopu smrtnosti od svih mentalnih bolesti. Među njima najveću zastupljenost imaju anoreksija i bulimija, no veliki je broj oboljelih i među ostalim tipovima ovoga poremećaja. Iz godine u godinu broj oboljelih raste, ali rano prepoznavanje simptoma može rezultirati uspješnim oporavkom osobe. Bitno je naglasiti kako niti jedna skupina ljudi nije više ili manje ugrožena, odnosno bolest se može dogoditi svima, od najmlađih do najstarijih, te od tjelesno neaktivnih do vrhunskih sportaša. Cilj ovoga rada bio je, analizom dostupne literature, utvrditi postoji li prema dosadašnjim istraživanjima kod djece i adolescenata povezanost tjelesne aktivnosti prije oboljenja s razvojem poremećaja u prehrani, te postoje li razlike u navedenoj povezanosti između muškog i ženskog spola. Time se nastojalo omogućiti bolje razumijevanje utjecaja tjelesnog vježbanja na zdravstveni status oboljelih.Eating disorders are one of the most common mental illnesses among children and adolescents, and represent the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. Among them, anorexia and bulimia are the most common, but there is a large number of patients among other types of this disorder. From year to year, the number of patients grows, but early recognition of symptoms can result in a successful recovery of the person. It is important to emphasize that no group of people is more or less endangered, respectively the disease can happen to anyone, from the youngest to the oldest, and from physically inactive to top athletes. The aim of this study was to review the relevant literature to investigate whether there is an association between physical activity before the disease and the development of eating disorders in children and adolescents, and whether there are differences in this relationship between males and females. This sought to provide a better understanding of the impact of physical exercise on the health status of patients