P0581Αssociation between anxiety and eating behavior in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Greece: preliminary results of a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often experience psychological distress and altered dietary behaviors, which may influence disease management and quality of life. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the relationship between anxiety levels, disordered eating behavior, and disease activity in a Greek population of adults with IBD. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 274 adults diagnosed with IBD. Anxiety was assessed using the GAD-7 questionnaire, and dietary behaviors were evaluated with the EAT-26 tool. Descriptive analyses characterized the sample, and Spearman correlation tests examined associations between anxiety, dietary behaviors, and disease status. Results Analysis revealed that 41.4% reported moderate to severe anxiety. Regarding dietary behavior, 26.6% of participants scored above the EAT-26 cut-off, indicating a risk of disordered eating pattern. Additionally, 78.7% reported avoiding foods that could trigger gastrointestinal or oral symptoms, and 61.1% consumed smaller portions to prevent gastrointestinal discomfort. Correlation analysis indicated a positive association between anxiety and disordered eating behavior (p < 0.005). Participants with self-reported relapse disease status scored significantly higher in disordered eating compared to those with self-reported remission disease status (p = 0.009). Conclusion The preliminary analysis of this study is the first in Greece to demonstrate a significant relationship between anxiety and disordered eating behavior among adults with IBD, independently of disease activity. Findings highlight the importance of assessing psychological factors when addressing dietary management in IBD and support the need for further research with larger, representative and controlled samples to guide the development tailored interventions. Conflict of interest: Strongylou, Dimitra Eleftheria: I have no conflict of interest to declare. Svolos, Vaios: Vaios Svolos has received research grants from NATPROD IKE, Mendes S.A. travel grants from Nutrients MDPI, SYN Innovation Laboratories S.A. and consulting fees from Chronicles Health and Access Nutrients Inc. Vakouftsi, Vasiliki: No conflicts Ntanou, Anastasia: No conflict of interest Chaniotakis, Angelos: No conflict of interest Fafaliou, Georgia: No conflict of interest Argyriou, Konstantinos: No conflict of interest Kapsoritakis, Andreas: No conflict of interest Bonoti, Fotini: No conflict of interest Androutsos, Odysseas: No conflict of interest