Disordered eating behaviors in youth with type 1 diabetes.

Eating disorders are a significant health problem for many adolescents and are described as occurring along a spectrum of symptoms including disordered eating behaviors and clinical eating disorders. Poor self-esteem and body image, intense fear of gaining weight or refusal to maintain weight, and purging unwanted calories are clinical features of some eating disorders. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic illness with marked insulin deficiency.