Food avoidance behaviors in individuals living with spinal cord injuries and disorders.

PURPOSE/

OBJECTIVE

Research on food avoidance behaviors in individuals with chronic spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) is scarce. The objective was to assess food avoidance, reasons, and associated variables in persons with chronic SCI/D.

RESEARCH METHOD/

DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Bivariate and multivariable analyses identified variables associated with food avoidance.

RESULTS

Of 365 respondents, 63% engaged in food avoidance behaviors. Reasons included intentional weight loss (49%), lack of hunger cues (40%), fear of bowel complications (32%), fear of gastrointestinal concerns (26%), uninterested in food (26%), and lack of help needed to prepare/eat food (11%). Bivariate analysis showed that a greater proportion of individuals with SCI/D who engaged in food avoidance behaviors compared with those who did not had low blood pressure (29% vs. 19%), heart problems (13% vs. 5%), sleep problems (86% vs. 66%), musculoskeletal pain (82% vs. 63%), bowel complications (78% vs. 69%), bladder complications (77% vs. 65%), gastroesophageal reflux disease (49% vs. 30%), osteoporosis (37% vs. 24%), posttraumatic stress (35% vs. 16%), and loneliness (31% vs. 14%; all p < .05). Variables that remained independently associated with food avoidance in multivariable analysis included: heart conditions (OR = 3.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-8.12), gastroesophageal reflux disease (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.05-2.97), musculoskeletal pain (OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.11-3.62), sleep problems (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.01-3.30), and loneliness (OR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.17-4.10; all p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Many individuals with SCI/D engaged in food avoidance behaviors. Food avoidance may be a strategy people use to modify their diet to manage health conditions, or it may suggest disordered avoidant eating behaviors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).