Introduction: The Eating Disorders-Nutritio nal Education Program has the purpose to achieve healthier habits, modifying the eating behaviour; and, ft should take part of Eating Di sorders treatment. Objectives: to determinate the efficacy of a Nutritional Education Program in nutritional sta tus and the eating pattern in a group of patients diagnosed of Eating Disorders. Material and methods: ft was included 22 patients (1 man), that received individual Nutri tional Education with weekly/fortnightly appoint merits along 6 months carried out by a dietician. The mean age of the sample was 24 7.5 years old and their diagnosis were: Anorexia Nervosa (AN) 54.5%1 Bulimia Nervosa (BN) 27.3%, Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDIVOS) 13.6% and Binge Eating Disorder ('BED) 4.5%, The mean evolution time from the diagnosis was 615 years. The patients filled up the EA T26 questionnaire (Eating Attitudes Test-26) either in the first appointment and at the end of the Nutritional Education Program. Results: After 6 months there was significantly reduction in the vomiting episodes (from 6.5 +/- 10 vs. 1.25 +/- 5.8 /week, p=0.002) and bin ge episodes in binge-purging AN and BN (from 3.5 6 vs. 0.75 21 p= 0.001). There was a significant improvement in: in of dairy food ('p=0.00, vegetables (0=0.021), cereals (0=0.008) and oil p=0.063 At the beginning, 23% consumed at least 3 of the 6 groups within the recommended range, but at the end was 77% (p=0.002) did it. The percentage of subjects that ate less than 4 meals per day reduced from 70% to 30% after the Educa tion Program (p=0.000). More before this Program, 54% consumed incomplete number of meal (a three course meal was considered normal), but at the end, this number was reduced to 33% (p= 0.001). The total energy intake and the carbohydrate percentage increased from 1088 +/- 630 v.s. 1323 +/- 417 (p=0.013) and from 48.5 to 54% (p=0.023) respectively. Furthermore, the Intake of following micronutrients improved signifi cantly: P Mg, Cal K I, VU B2, Piridoxinal vit E and Folic Acid (p<01005). The mean of increased weight was 4.3 kg (41. 7 +/- 5. 7 VS. 46 +/- 4.8) in AN pure restricting subtype, while in the AN binge-purging subtype, BN and EDNOS did not change. Neither skin fold thickness nor midarm circumference were significantly different from the beginning. The mean score of EAT26 questionnaire was 201 +/- 12.9 (Maximum 56, Minimum 3), when this study started, and after 6 months the score was 27 +/- 13.5 (Maximum 501 Minimum 9). Because of this important difference ('p=0.001), is possible to believe in a significant improvement of symp toms of this patients after the Program. There were also significantly differences in the evaluation of the questionnaire by scales. Conclusions: The Nutritional Education Program carried on by qualified and expert professionals must take part of Eating Disorders treatment; along with medical and psychological in and within the interdisciplinary basis of working in a multiprofessionat team.
