Body image and eating attitudes and behaviors among adolescent heart and lung transplant recipients: a brief report.

Background-Adolescents with chronic illnesses are at increased risk for body image and eating disorders; however, this has not been investigated in solid organ transplant recipients. Adolescent transplant recipients are a vulnerable cohort because of the sustained follow-up and immune-suppressing therapies, which often include steroid; and may lead to weight gain and cosmetic changes. Consequences of body dissatisfaction such as disordered behaviors have not been well studied in transplant recipients. Purpose-To examine body image, eating attitudes, and behaviors among 28 adolescent thoracic transplant recipients. Methods-Adolescent (11-18 years old) heart and lung transplant recipients a minimum of 3 months after transplant provided informed written consent and completed a standardized questionnaire package about eating attitudes and behaviors; body image and drive for thinness; actual, perceived, and desired weight; and medical and anthropometric information (eg, body mass index) during regular transplant clinics. Results-Of 25 heart and 3 lung transplant recipients (54% female; median age, 14.5 years; median, 1.6 years after transplant), 37% perceived their current weight as too high or low. Moreover, 81% were dissatisfied with their current weight (38% wanted to lose and 44% wanted to gain weight), yet few engaged in disordered behaviors. Conclusions-Despite high levels of self-reported body dissatisfaction, low rates of disordered behaviors were observed. Weight dissatisfaction was high (81%) but bidirectional (to lose or to gain weight). Future assessment of disordered eating behaviors should include insidious activities such as medication nonadherence, in addition to traditional weight-control behaviors such as binge eating, strict dieting, or assiduous exercise. Further research will delineate the impact of body dissatisfaction and eating behaviors and outcomes on long-term transplant survivors, older adolescent cohorts, and other recipients of solid organ transplants. (Progress in Transplantation. 2012;22:259-263) (C)2012 NATCO, The Organization for Transplant Professionals doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7182/pit2012355