Abstracts

We have previously reported a higher prevalence of psychiatric symptoms and risk-taking behavior in youth with epilepsy compared to controls. The aim of this presentation is to assess nutritional habits in youth with epilepsy in junior and senior high school in a Norwegian County., The study was cross-sectional and based on questionnaires from youth aged 12-19 yrs. 20,083 questionnaires were filled inn (responder rate 82%). Logistic regression analysis was performed with eating [ldquo]unhealthy food[rdquo] as dependent variable. Gender, age, having or having had epilepsy and family affluence were independent variables. Eating unhealthy food was defined as eating at least one of the following foods at least once a day: candy, coffee/tea, potato chips, french fries or soda pop., Having or having had epilepsy was the strongest predictor for eating [ldquo]unhealthy food[rdquo] (OR 1.6, p=0.01). Being male was also a predictor for unhealthy diet. Those never eating breakfast were significantly more prominent among the youth with epilepsy compared to controls (12.8% vs 6.6%, p=0.01)., We found a significant increase in unhealthy nutritional habits among youth with epilepsy, controlled for gender, age, and family affluence. We believe that these findings correspond well with the considerable psychosocial problems within the epilepsy youth which we have reported earlier., (Supported by Norwegian Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation (EXTRA FUND).)